Pacific Theatre Announces 2019-2020 Season

For its 36th season, Pacific Theatre presents seven plays exploring the questions that power our internal worlds: how do we hold space and identity in a world suddenly transformed? What does it mean to protect a child? Where do we find dignity and freedom as we age? Can a cruel person truly change and be forgiven?

The season kicks off with Mother Of The Maid, a Canadian premiere examining the Joan of Arc story through the eyes of her mother Isabelle. The explosive Best Of Enemies tells the true story of a civil right activist battling the KKK to desegregate her child's school. And Gramma, a brand new play from Pacific Theatre favourite Maki Yi, explores generational and cultural gulfs and the difficult work of bridging those gaps.

Continuing its practice of working with both emerging and established producers, this coming season includes a Guest Production of Frankenstein by from Wireless Wings Radio Ensemble, who previously brought It's A Wonderful Life to the Pacific Theatre stage, and a staging of Love/Sick from former apprentice Jalen Saip.

"The plays this year are close to my heart," says Artistic Director Ron Reed, who will be putting on Scrooge's nightcap for A Christmas Carol in December and directing season closer The Trip To Bountiful. "These are stories of people confronting the very core of what makes us human - the faith, the doubt, the joy and the pain of it. It's everything we want theatre to do."

MOTHER OF THE MAID FRESH OFF BROADWAY! SEPT 13 - OCT 5

by Jane Anderson

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the Canadian premiere of a new play from a wonderful female playwright that tackles the themes of motherhood and faith from the point of view of some pretty amazing women from history."- Anita Wittenberg, Actor

Isabelle Arc knows what her teenage daughter Joan needs: discipline, a loving husband, and to stop communing with God. As Joan hurtles toward her destiny as the Maid of Orleans, Isabelle must care for the extraordinary child who belongs not just to her, but to all of France.

FRANKENSTEIN: LOST IN DARKNESS GUEST PRODUCTION OCT 18 - NOV 2

adapted by Peter Church from Mary Shelley's novel

a guest production from Wireless Wings Radio Ensemble

"Like all great science fiction, Mary Shelley's novel uses scientific exploration as the backdrop to ask moral and philosophical questions about the nature of being human. It's a foundation that has served the genre - and this story - well."- Matthew Simmons

Captain Robert Walton has a nightmarish tale to tell - the story of young Victor Frankenstein and his quest to create life. A haunting fable of hubris and loss re-interpreted as immersive audio drama for the Pacific Theatre stage.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL A PACIFIC THEATRE FAVOURITE NOV 29 - DEC 21

adapted by Ron Reed from Charles Dickens' novel

"Sarah Rodgers is one of the finest interpretive directors in the city, and even though this is a one-man show, she is my partner in bringing Scrooge and his world to life. I couldn't be more excited to re-invent this story with her."- Ron Reed, Actor

It's Christmas Eve and Ebenezer Scrooge is drifting off to sleep. . . but he cannot imagine what the night has in store for him. Told with humour and Dickens' own transcendent prose, Ron Reed embodies Scrooge and more than thirty characters in the greatest Christmas story ever written.

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE DEC 15 - 23

Pacific Theatre's favourite Christmas tradition. With poems and prose that range from the heartfelt to the hilarious mixed in with songs both old and new, Christmas Presence is an intimate and warm way to usher in the holiday spirit.

GRAMMA WORLD PREMIERE JAN 17 - FEB 1

by Maki Yi

"GRAMMA holds a special place in my heart, both as the person and as the play. Therefore, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity to bring the memory of our 'home' to my 'home' stage."- Maki Yi, Playwright/Actor

Maki is excited to begin her new life in a Regina basement suite, but her elderly landlady seems determined to treat her as nothing more than a servant. Playwright and actor Maki Yi (Suitcase Stories) returns to Pacific Theatre with a poetic tale of human connection even in darkness.

THE BEST OF ENEMIES A TRUE STORY FEB 28 - MAR 21

by Mark St. Germain

"One of the things I love about this play is that it gives us hope that people can change - and that, sadly, it's such a timely story to be told. The fifty years since the events of BEST OF ENEMIES occurred feel like a day."- Ian Farthing, Director

Civil rights activist Ann Atwater is fighting a pitched battle to protect her children. C.P. Ellis is the Exalted Cyclops of the local KKK chapter. When a Washington mediator arrives in Durham to institute nationally-mandated desegregation, Ann and C.P. are forced into an uneasy truce as they wrestle for control of the future. Based on true events.

LOVE/SICK EMERGING ARTISTS AT WORK! APR 3 - 25

by John Cariani

a guest production from Jalen Saip

"In an increasingly virtual time, LOVE/SICK is all about being face to face. It sifts us right down to our core and the questions we find there: "What do I want?" "How do I love someone?" "Can I trust you?" "Will you still love me?" Those little questions aching in our heart that we lather, rinse and repeat through our lives."- Jamie King, Director

It's Friday night at the SuperCenter, and love is in the air. This darker companion piece to Almost, Maine brings nine slightly twisted and completely hilarious short stories of love and loss set in an alternate suburban reality. An unromantic comedy for the romantic in everyone directed by Jamie King (The Wolves).

THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL A CLASSIC RENEWED MAY 15 - JUN 6

by Horton Foote

"THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL is one of my favourite plays ever written. I see my mother in Carrie Watts - her courage, her eccentricity, and her vitality. Motherhood is evergreen, and so too is her story."- Ron Reed, Director

Aging widow Carrie Watts longs to escape the confined Houston apartment she shares with her placid son and imperious daughter-in-law. Desperate to return to her childhood homestead in Bountiful, Texas before it's too late, she steals away on a Greyhound bus to journey in search of freedom and home.

Pacific Theatre is a mid-sized professional theatre company in Vancouver. In operation since 1984, Pacific Theatre moved into its current home at 12th and Hemlock in 1994 and is now one of the only companies in Vancouver to produce a full season of theatre in its own space. Set apart from with its unique, "fly on the wall", 128-seat alley-style theatre, Pacific Theatre offers professional mainstage programming as well as development opportunities for emerging artists.

To post a comment, you must register and login.