Hope you’re all enjoying the Spring season! In Vancouver, it’s one of the best times to get out and explore; there’s no shortage of theatre, music, film, dance and thought-provoking exhibits happening across the city this April. It’s a great chance to soak in the energy of the season and maybe try something a little outside your usual routine. With Earth Day on April 22, it’s also a good excuse to rethink how you get around. Consider hopping on transit, biking or just taking a walk, Vancouver tends to reward you for it this time of year anyway.
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National Canadian Film Day
April 15
Launched in 2014, CanFilmDay has brought together hundreds of thousands of Canadians, to celebrate our stories and the incredible achievements of our filmmakers. Whether you host a screening or attend one, watch from the comfort of your home or join the party on social media, CanFilmDay is your day to feel connected to our cultures and shared values. What inspires you to keep going? To stand up for what matters? These days, we need that more than ever, and Canadian filmmakers have an incredible way of giving us a sense of connection, strength and hope. There will be 60 stories that remind us what it means to dream, to fight for your beliefs and to find strength in community. Check out their website for a complete list of films.
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Manifesto
April 16–18, 8 p.m.
www.dancehouse.ca/stephanie-lake-company
DanceHouse and Vancouver New Music will present the B.C. premiere of Australia’s Stephanie Lake Company’s riveting Manifesto from April 16 to 18 at the Vancouver Playhouse. In a unique pairing, nine drummers and nine dancers – with backgrounds ranging from contemporary and ballet to salsa and hip hop, from jazz and metal to classical and experimental – will share the stage for this explosive full-length performance, summoning a cacophonic wall of sound composed by Lake’s partner, experimental music composer Robin Fox. Renowned for her inventive approach to crafting dynamic performances for large ensembles, Lake has emerged as one of Australia’s most compelling and celebrated choreographers in recent years. Her unique movement vocabulary combines meticulous control with moments of raw freedom, drawing energy from the dancers’ natural instincts and diverse lived experiences.
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Art Against Climate Disaster
April 16–25
www.revision-theartofrecycling.com/events-list
Art Against Climate Disaster, on display at the Deer Lake Gallery, highlights environmental challenges and features works from 19 local artists working in sculpture, collage and painting, on view both inside and outside the gallery. Artists include Robert Turriff, whose welded sculptures incorporate native plants; Valerie Arntzen, whose assemblage works use materials collected from around the world; and Ron Simmer, who transforms discarded materials into captivating, playful works that offer whimsical commentary on modern society. Auxiliary programming includes workshops, an opening celebration on April 16 and a closing event on April 25.
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The Fox
April 17–19
Based on the novella by D.H. Lawrence, The Fox, an opera by composer Roan Shankaruk being performed at the ANNEX on Seymour Street, revolves around the nuanced relationships between its three characters – two women who run a small, isolated poultry farm in the wake of the First World War and the Spanish Flu, and the charming young soldier who comes to stay. This production will be the staged premiere of the chamber opera. For tickets, cast bios and more information, please visit the Opera Unbound website.
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Shrek: The Musical
April 17–May 3
www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com/shrek-the-musical
The Royal City Musical Theatre will present Shrek: The Musical at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre from April 17 to May 3. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, this Tony Award-winning musical bursts with hilarious adventure, show-stopping songs and larger-than-life characters. Join Shrek, Donkey, Fiona and a cast of fairy tale misfits on a heartwarming journey that proves beauty is in the eye of the ogre. Packed with dazzling costumes, imaginative sets and a fire-breathing dragon, it’s the perfect family outing. For tickets, showtimes and more information, please visit the theatre’s website.
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Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade
April 18
Every April, millions of Sikhs world-wide celebrate Vaisakhi Day, a day that marks the establishment of the Khalsa order by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Sikh Guru). Considered one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar, parades celebrating the event are held in Sikh communities around the world. The largest Vaisakhi Parade in the world occurs in Surrey, where approximately 500,000 people attend the annual Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade. For details and more information, check out the parade’s website.
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The Undeniable Accusations of Red Cadmium Light
April 18–May 3
www.firehallartscentre.ca/event/the-undeniable-accusations-of-red-cadmium-light
Award-winning Ojibway playwright, author, journalist and filmmaker Drew Hayden Taylor returns to the Firehall Arts Centre this spring with a provocative new play that dives into the high-stakes world of counterfeit Indigenous art. In a world of fakes, who can you trust? “Red Cadmium Light” paint was created in 1982. So when a painting attributed to legendary Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau is dated earlier than that – and contains the pigment – it can only mean one thing: it’s a fake. ‘Nazhi’ runs an art gallery on the Otter Lake First Nation, specializing in the work of Norval Morrisseau and other renowned Indigenous artists. Her daughter ‘Beverly’ is a respected Indigenous educator on the verge of a major career breakthrough. But when a reporter begins to dig into the world of counterfeit Indigenous art, a discovery is made that risks jeopardizing both women’s careers, and their relationship, forever. The play asks urgent questions about authenticity, identity and the cost of truth.
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Beyond Wellness: Authenticity, Belonging and Care
April 21, 5:30–9:30 p.m.
www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/events/beyond-wellness-panel-talk-apr-21
Join Dr. Maryam Zeineddin, founder of Zili CARE, and Dr. Gabor Maté at the Arts Club Granville Island Stage for a conversation about the true meaning of health – for ourselves, our communities and our societies. The evening will feature a panel of respected Health Champions including: Dr. Melissa Lem, Dr. Mark Sherman, Dr. Renee Fernandez, Dr. Brittany Bingham, Claudia Chirico and Sonja Foley of Maturn. The event will be emceed by Sonia Sunger, co-anchor of Global News Morning. Please visit the Vancouver Art Gallery’s website for tickets and more information.
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After the Rain & Other Works
April 23–25, 7:30 p.m.
www.vancouvercivictheatres.com/events/ballet-vancouver-after-the-rain-apr-23-25-2026
The company’s inaugural program will feature the Vancouver premiere of After the Rain by The Royal Ballet artistic associate Christopher Wheeldon, a two-part ballet known for its emotional depth and elegant simplicity, originally performed by New York City Ballet; the world premiere of a new creation choreographed by Joshua Beamish, in collaboration with Indigenous artist and fashion designer Yolonda Skelton, which centres a harmonious, thoughtful integration of Indigenous design and ballet; the live Vancouver premiere of Redemption by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, a solo journey of a fallen angel that explores themes of solitude and contemplation, which received its digital premiere at the 2021 PuSh Festival for Performing Arts; and the Vancouver reprise of Wen Wei Wang’s Swan, a modern reimagining of the ballet classic Swan Lake performed en pointe.
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16th Verses Festival of Words
April 27–May 2
www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/about-verses
Vancouver Poetry House will present the 16th annual Verses Festival of Words from April 27 to May 2, at Chill X Studio. The festival theme is “Intimate Dialogues,” a rumination on the smaller forms of communication that counter mass disinformation through intentional community-building and learning. The 2026 program features showcases of innovative spoken word artistry, workshops from acclaimed writers and thinkers and the return of Verses’ annual flagship event: the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS). Check out the website for more information.
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