Derek Chan in A Taste of Hong Kong. | Photo courtesy of The Cultch
Join in the vibrant community gatherings and celebrations happening in March as we honour the spirit of International Women’s Day and welcome Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, love and spring. With art exhibitions, music festivals, theatre performances and literary readings filling the cultural calendar, there are endless opportunities to explore and enjoy the richness of our shared experiences. Wishing you all a wonderful March – make the most of the final weeks of winter, and see you in the spring!
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Dance Forms in the Street
March 4–May 5
www.richmondartgallery.org/dance-forms-street
Drawing from ancient and contemporary festivals in Colombia, artist Juliana Silva’s Dance Forms in the Street, on exhibit at the Richmond Art Gallery, presents four large digital prints on textile in conjunction with a stop-motion animation, which explore the celebratory and healing origins of street carnivals and festivals. It highlights the convergence of ritual elements such as dance, music and costume, showcasing the sense of joy and community found in these gatherings. Intricate fabric patterns weave together cultural elements observed during the artist’s visits to Colombia’s Blacks and Whites Carnival and Cali Fair, including braids and hats representing women working in the fields, panthers evoking volcanic strength and jingle bells worn by dancers marking the start of festivities. These vibrant textile works reflect a fusion of Afro-descendant, Indigenous and Spanish influences, celebrating the rich multicultural lineage of these events.
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Things I Hide From Dad
March 5–8
www.pacifictheatre.org/show/things-i-hide-from-dad
Playing at the Pacific Theatre from March 5 to 8 is a play by writer Travis Abels, Things I Hide From Dad. There’s a war going on inside twelve-year-old Travis Abels. Trying to obey his dad, a preacher in a fundamentalist sect, he believes the mere thought of sex might trigger a nuclear apocalypse. Don’t we all? But he just can’t shake these… feelings he’s been having. Join Travis on an immersive ride through his life inside and outside a doomsday cult as he investigates the monsters – and friends – hiding in all our closets. For tickets and showtimes, check out the theatre’s website.
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Zenith
March 6–8
www.balletbc.com/performance/zenith
The Ballet BC season continues with an evening featuring a world premiere by the winner of the 2024 Ballet BC Emily Molnar Emerging Choreographer Award, the return of a masterful work from a renowned creator and a new commission from a longtime collaborator. ZENITH brings you a new creation by Andrea Peña, the return of Johan Inger’s PASSING and a world premiere by Fernando Hernando Magadan. For tickets, showtimes and more information, check out the Ballet BC’s website.
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A Taste of Hong Kong
March 6–15
https://thecultch.com/event/a-taste-of-hong-kong
Playing at the Vancity Culture Lab from March 6 to 15 is, A Taste of Hong Kong. Come join Jackie for a snack-sized tasting class of Hong Kong’s best treats while sharing the highlights and history of Hong Kong. All the way from its colonial era to the present, this class will give you a first-hand look at the pride and determination of Hong Kong people. For more information about this play, tickets and cast information, check out The Cultch’s website.
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A Place Called Home: Shifting Narratives About Housing Justice
March 6–May 2
www.douglascollege.ca/about-douglas/learn-about-douglas/groups-organizations/amelia-douglas-gallery
This exhibit is supported by the Changing the Conversation Project, Arts New West, the City of New Westminster and Canada Council for the Arts. Changing the Conversation (CTC) is a three-year project that examines how public spaces and public art can facilitate a healthier discourse about housing in the community. This exhibit offers an invitation to bear witness and reflect on how we might help to build a future where justice is not just an aspiration – it’s a fact. The collection of analog and collage art, photographs, poetry broadsides and neon art features the work of CTC Artist in Residence Amal Ishaque, Marpole Mutual Aid Network members and Community Action Network (CAN) peer leaders from New Westminster. There will be an opening reception on March 6 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
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“I Get You”: Empathy, Rhetoric & Design of AI Assistants
March 7, 3–4:30 p.m.
https://events.sfu.ca/event/43549-i-get-you-empathy-rhetoric-design-of-ai
Please join the SFU English department for a talk by communications professor Isabel Pedersen on Friday, March 7 at SFU Burnaby. The goal to achieve novel AI systems has been ignited by an urgent commercial preoccupation with making emotionally engaged, empathetic AI assistants. The promise of empathy offers the alluring condition of being known by another, when someone simply “gets you.” Inventors work to embed the appearance of emotional signs in functional AI applications through meaning-making systems that mimic interpersonal communication. However, how do we come to terms with the ethical conundrum of artificial empathy? Is anthropomorphized AI leading to deceptive, destructive systems or the possibility of beneficial, creative, dialogic exchanges with artificial agents? Check out the SFU events page for more information.
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CelticFest 2025
March 7–17
Vancouver’s annual celebration of Celtic culture returns for the 21st time March 7–17, but this year will be different. After hugely successful festivals for the last three years in downtown Vancouver, CelticFest will be hosting events at various venues. The headline event on Sunday March 16 will feature Irish acoustic folk-rock band, Hermitage Green at the Vogue Theatre, and a Family Day event will be held in East Vancouver on Saturday March 15 featuring art, music, dance and tin whistle workshops for kids along with food trucks, bouncy castles and face painting fun! Other events throughout the week include the What’s the Craic, an Irish themed variety show, local comedian Amy Walsh will host an Irish comedy show headlined by Aaron McCann, chef Donal Hughes is preparing a live cooking demonstration of Irish favourites with a modern twist and the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir will return along with the annual Ceilidh.
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An Evening with Gabor Maté: The Myth of Normal
March 9, 7:30 p.m.
vancouvercivictheatres.com/events
Embark on a profound journey into the intricate landscapes of the human mind and soul with renowned physician, speaker and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté, as he challenges the notion of what is considered “normal” in our society. With compassion and unwavering authenticity, Dr. Maté explores the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit, shedding light on the underlying causes of human suffering and resilience. Drawing from his groundbreaking research on addiction, trauma and the impact of early childhood experiences, he offers a transformative perspective on healing and personal growth. Through compelling anecdotes, scientific research and practical wisdom, Dr. Maté invites audiences to reconsider their understanding of mental health, addiction and the nature of human connection. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a mental health advocate or simply a curious seeker of truth, this event promises to inspire, educate and ignite a deeper understanding of the human condition.
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A Classic Farce Double Bill
March 14–16
The Western Gold Theatre will present two short one act plays this March: Anton Chekov’s The Marriage Proposal and George Bernard Shaw’s Overruled. Chekov’s play is a classic, fast-paced and farcical screwball comedy all about the “business” of love. In Shaw’s play, Mr. Lunn and Mrs. Juno have fallen in love. So, as it happens, have their respective spouses – with each other! Two couples are swingin’ at an English seaside hotel in Shaw’s zany, humorous and thought-provoking exploration of marriage, polyamory and fidelity. For tickets and showtimes, please visit the theatre’s website.
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Behind the Moon: An Evening with Playwright and Novelist Anosh Irani
March 18, 6:30–8 p.m.
https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/67a6640b5ca5ec68c1c58271
Anosh Irani is a playwright and novelist who was born in India. In 2023 Irani was awarded the Writers’ Trust Engel Findley Award that recognizes a “mid-career writer in recognition of a remarkable body of work, and in anticipation of future contributions to Canadian literature.” His newest play Behind the Moon is a story of love and loss, freedom and faith, the meaning of brotherhood and how we begin a new life. In a Mughlai restaurant in Toronto, a late-night visit from a mysterious stranger rattles the cage and shatters the peace. Now the restaurant’s employee Ayub must face reality, the family he’s left behind, and the dreams he’s abandoned, all while keeping the restaurant shiningly clean. Anosh will be in conversation with Lois Anderson, artistic director at Touchstone Theatre for a delightful evening at the VPL Central Branch around the playwriting process and the Canadian theatre scene.
