D AY T R I P S
& OVERNIGHTERS
Photo by Ritchie Perez: Between Breaths Photo: original The Marvelous Wondrettes Off-Broadway cast by Carol Rosegg
Live Theatre by Noah Faust-Robinson
There is no better way to break up the monotony of the early months of the year than to partake in the warmth and intimacy of live theatre. Thankfully, the mid island boasts many professional and amateur options when it comes to an afternoon or evening of live performance. Located just half an hour south of Fairwinds on Highway 19, the 800 seat Port Theatre in the heart of Nanaimo’s scenic harbour hosts a variety of world class music, dance, and theatre each year. On February 16, see Lonely - Celebrating the Music of Roy Orbison. On tour in Canada and the US, this show “delivers a sensitive and dynamic tribute to the one and only Roy Orbison.”
For a change of pace, head north on Highway 19 for approximately 25 minutes to the seaside town of Qualicum Beach, where you’ll find the historic Village Theatre, the home of ECHO Players community theatre. Stroll quaint 2nd Avenue this February before taking your seat for ECHO’s rendition of the Tony award winning classic stage adaptation of The Secret Garden. Though the weather may be grey, a day spent visiting any of these local performance mainstays will leave you feeling vibrant and energized.
For those looking to stretch their theatre going experience into an overnight getaway, a trip to Victoria is a great opportunity to immerse oneself in a thriving performance community, and also to spot some of the city’s most distinct historical architecture.
Just up from downtown, in the funky neighbourhood square of Fernwood, the Belfry Theatre plays host to the annual Spark Festival from March 9 to 22. Grab a pizza or a pint across the street at Fernwood Pizza Company or Fernwood Inn before visiting the former Baptist Church for one of four festival shows or a workshop. For a grand finale, be sure to stay at a hotel or bed and breakfast with a view of the vividly illuminated Victoria inner harbour, and spend the next morning brunching and browsing the pastel storefronts on lower Johnson Street.
Photo by Joan Marcus: Queens College. Kennedy Caughell (“Carole King”) and James D. Gish (“Gerry Goffin”)
Half an hour farther down the Island Highway, the Chemainus Theatre Festival puts on several professional shows a year and features the Playbill Dining Room with on-theme menus. This winter’s musical production, The Marvelous Wondrettes, runs from February 14 to March 28, and is sure to shake out the winter cobwebs with a visit to the 1958 Springfield High School prom and nostalgic hits from the 50’s and 60’s.
After making the two-hour trip south, find your way to the Royal and McPherson Theatres. Built in 1913 and 1914 respectively, these historic venues have retained much of their original charm, architectural style and decor. Just stepping inside Royal Theatre is itself a treat, and with 1,416 seats, the Royal is the largest theatre on Vancouver Island. Both venues host numerous performances this season: from the Tony awardwinning Broadway show, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (early February), and The House at Pooh Corner (mid-February) to presentations by Pacific Opera, the Victoria Symphony and Ballet BC, as well as performances on tour, including The Simon & Garfunkel Story, a concert-style theatre show and the longrunning musical tribute, Abbamania. Visit rmts.bc.ca for the full calendar of events.
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