We had a fabulous evening celebrating Canadian Film with a screening of the Wells Kids Movie Making Camp Short Films. West Side Wells: A Tale of Two Mayors and A Miner Inconvenience. And our Feature was Blackberry.

Thanks to Reels Canada for including us in the National Line up of Canadian Film Offerings, and thanks to the community members who came out to support.

#see you at Next years National Film Day!

We wanted to let you know about the fabulous Artists we have working at the Sunset Theatreright now as part of our 2024 Exploration Series, which is made possibly by funding from the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Some of you may remember Amy Braun and Ian Griffiths who make up the fabulous musical duo, Half/Asian with Amy the CODA. They have been joined by writer Miwa Hiroe in the creation of a new mulit-disciplinary play called Hallowed Be Thy. (Theatre, Music, Dance, Mask). They arrived April 6 and will be with us until April 15th.

On Saturday, April 13th @ 7PM at the Sunset Theatre, they would like to share the script that they've been creating this past week. We have a great group of local actors who will be reading the script, which is in its 1st stage of development.

Thank you to Danette Bee, Elyssia Sasaki, Megan Bunting-Fox, Ryan Schmitt, Alex Judd and Julia Mackey for their talents and time.

Come and Join us if you can. Saturday, April 13th @ 7PM. The reading will be about 30 to 40 minutes followed by discussion about the story, which will help the artists figure out the next phase of development.

Admission is By Donation

The Exploration Series is at the heart of the work we do at the Sunset Theatre.

Thanks to funding from the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts & Dept. of Canadian Heritage, we are able to support Canadian Artists in the Creation of New Work.

We are excited for you to join us this Friday, March 29th @ 8PM for the very first public reading of Brendan McLeod's brand new show!

Brendan McLeod (writer, performer) and Julia Course (director) are here in Wells as part of our 2024 Exploration Series, working on their newest collaboration — a one-person show centered on the climate crisis, capitalism, and the nature of reality. If that sounds dire, don't worry, it's supposed to be a comedy.

Julia and Brendan's previous collaboration was Ridge, a Globe and Mail Top Ten Arts Event of 2020. Brendan has also been here before with his JUNO-nominated folk group The Fugitives.
They'd love people to come listen, give feedback, and help them wade through the murky artistic territory of doing this show for the very first time ever!

The reading is @ 60 minutes and will be followed with a Q&A to help give feedback to Brendan and Julia. This is always a really helpful part of the creative process for artists to ask Questions of the audience and get feedback on their new work.

See you at the Sunset!

Stay tuned for more details on the wonderful winter outdoor themed short films that will be presented by WATS as part of their annual Gourmet Ski Weekend. It’s always a great evening after a long fabulous day of skiing.

Visit the WATS website for details about Tickets for the Film Fest, which can also be purchased at the Door @ the Sunset Theatre. The tickets for the Film Fest are separate from the Gourmet Ski Tickets.

https://wellstrails.ca/gourmet-ski/

95% SOLD OUT • AS OF DECEMBER 12TH

EMAIL SUNSETTHEATRE@GMAIL.COM FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY

Save the date! Our 1st Christmas Cabaret since 2018!

Join us for some yuletide comedy, music and more - all created and performed by local Theatre Artists and Musicians.

Cabaret has been our main Fundraiser event for the Sunset Theatre Society since 2007!

Tickets $20 for Adults, $18 for Sunset Theatre Members, $10 for Teens •

Please note some Cabaret content is adult themed so the show is appropriate for Teens and up.

Pier 21 is a moving musical, written and directed by Allen Desnoyer, and uses a blend of Celtic and swing music to tell the stories of those who fled from Europe and arrived at Pier 21, the gateway to Canada.

Desnoyers said the concept for the show was something he had been thinking about for the better part of a decade.

“When Syrian refugees began arriving in my hometown of Ladner, B.C. in late 2016, the tenant at my home was from Libya and became a translator to local refugees and it seemed crucial to find a way to tell a story of people fleeing a war zone, but also make it an entertaining show,” he said in an email interview.

A visit to Pier 21 in Halifax in 2017 inspired him to begin writing a Celtic flavoured show that could incorporate immigrants and Second World War brides as well as swing music.

“Finding out that Pier 21 was where the troops departed from clinched the need to focus on the (Second World War) era itself and provided the show with a clear beginning, middle and end,” he said.

The production has been embraced and has been performed close to 250 times across Canada including a visit to Pier 21 in 2019. The pandemic cancelled the show that was planned for Ottawa on the 75th anniversary of VE Day and one planned for Steinbach in spring of 2020.

If you are searching for relief from modern cynicism and despair, look no further than Destiny, USA - The UBYSSEY, Vancouver

‍When Laura moved from Toronto to Syracuse, New York, she wasn’t expecting to be residing in Trump’s America.

Gaining her first job as a relay operator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing causes her to question whether she can discover the hidden humanity of the American people. Destiny, USA by Laura Anne Harris beautifully weaves together three poignant and personal stories: her move to Syracuse, NY to be with her new husband as he pursues his PhD, her attempt to deal with her mother’s illness in Canada while living in Trump's America, and her enlightening new job as a relay operator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

While this is mainly autobiographical, some details have been changed to protect the anonymity of the Deaf callers.

The performance integrates partial closed captioning and features performances from three Canadian Deaf actors: Tamyka Bullen, Natasha Bacchus, and Sage Lovell through ASL video projection.

WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY‍

Laura Anne Harris
VIDEO APPEARANCES BY ‍

Natasha Bacchus
Tamyka Bullen
Sage Lovell

‍CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR
Krystal Osborne

PLAYWRIGHT
Laura Anne Harris

ASL CONSULTANT
Kat Campbell

PROJECTION / CAPTIONING DESIGN
Matthew Koutzun

SOUND DESIGN
Alex Eddington

‍

If you are searching for relief from modern cynicism and despair, look no further than Destiny, USA - The UBYSSEY, Vancouver

‍‍When Laura moved from Toronto to Syracuse, New York, she wasn’t expecting to be residing in Trump’s America.

Gaining her first job as a relay operator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing causes her to question whether she can discover the hidden humanity of the American people. Destiny, USA by Laura Anne Harris beautifully weaves together three poignant and personal stories: her move to Syracuse, NY to be with her new husband as he pursues his PhD, her attempt to deal with her mother’s illness in Canada while living in Trump's America, and her enlightening new job as a relay operator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

While this is mainly autobiographical, some details have been changed to protect the anonymity of the Deaf callers.

The performance integrates partial closed captioning and features performances from three Canadian Deaf actors: Tamyka Bullen, Natasha Bacchus, and Sage Lovell through ASL video projection.

WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY‍

Laura Anne Harris

VIDEO APPEARANCES BY ‍

Natasha Bacchus
Tamyka Bullen
Sage Lovell

‍CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR
Krystal Osborne

PLAYWRIGHT
Laura Anne Harris

ASL CONSULTANT
Kat Campbell

PROJECTION / CAPTIONING DESIGN
Matthew Koutzun

SOUND DESIGN
Alex Eddington

‍

We still have two fabulous shows on September 28/29 and Oct 12th, but we are very happy to be part of the End Of Season Block Party tomorrow, Sunday, September 10th to celebrate all the hard work our Tourism, Hospitality and Cultural Workers have done all summer to create the beautiful vibe that is Wells.

A Big thanks to the Wells Hotel for organizing this event.

The Sunset Theatre Cafe will be open from 12noon 'till late!

We will have our usual real butter w/ popcorn, snacks, movies, music, dancing, and we also hope to track down some outdoor games to set up next door.

Jake’s Gift returns to the Sunset Theatre stage this summer on Saturday, July 15th and Friday, September 8th. This multi-award winning play is written and performed by Julia Mackey and Directed by Dirk Van Stralen. It was one of three plays to come out of our inaugural Exploration Series in 2006.

Synopsis:

Jake’s Gift is a surprisingly funny drama about a Canadian WW2 veteran’s reluctant return to Normandy for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.

While revisiting the shores of Juno beach, Jake encounters Isabelle, a precocious 10-year-old from the local village. Isabelle’s inquisitive nature and charm challenge the old soldier to confront some long-ignored ghosts – most notably the war-time death of his eldest brother, Chester, a once promising young musician.

At its heart, Jake’s Gift is about the legacy of remembrance and makes personal the story behind one soldier’s grave.

Written & Performed by Julia Mackey

Directed by Dirk Van Stralen

www.jakesgift.com

The show is 1 Act and runs 65 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets are $20 for Adults, $18 for Sunset Theatre Members and $10 for Teens and Kids. The play is recommended for Ages 10 +

Silent Film as it was meant to be heard.

Enjoy original live accompaniment arranged & composed by Patrick Courtin for three classic Buster Keaton short films:
The Scarecrow (1920), Cops (1922), and One Week (1920).

Silent Film as it was meant to be heard.

Enjoy original live accompaniment arranged & composed by Patrick Courtin for three classic Buster Keaton short films:
The Scarecrow (1920), Cops (1922), and One Week (1920).

Silent Film as it was meant to be heard.

Enjoy original live accompaniment arranged & composed by Patrick Courtin for three classic Buster Keaton short films:
The Scarecrow (1920), Cops (1922), and One Week (1920).

The Fugitives are an acoustic folk-roots group headed by songwriters Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod. They’re joined by banjo player Chris Suen (Viper Central) and violinist Carly Frey (The Coal Porters). Over their first five albums, they’ve amassed a JUNO nomination, numerous CFMA and WCMA nominations, and toured extensively through Canada, Europe, and the UK. Performance highlights include most major Canadian folk festivals, a slot at Glastonbury, and a tour opening for Buffy Sainte-Marie. In 2020, the band created “Ridge”, a WW1-centered theatre show, which was named a Globe & Mail “Top Arts Pick of the Year”, and has toured to over 30 theatres across Canada. The band has earned a reputation for unforgettable live shows, brimming with complex harmonies, infectious storytelling and top-notch musicianship. As the CBC has it: “This show is simply brilliant.”

“The four part vocals are sensational…each of these Fugitives has the talent, voice and charisma to front their own band.” — Edmonton Sun

“Despite their all-acoustic lineup, the Fugitives bring enough energy to the stage to light up a small city… The East Van quartet conjures up a sound that’s like the missing link between Leonard Cohen, the Pogues, and the immortal Shorty Shitstain.” — Georgia Straight

A 1-human musical cabaret of piano, ukulele, guitar, synth and voice, with occasional help from the others in the room (that’s you).

Madeline explores everything from social media to time travel to love to spiritual illness to addiction to ecology to gold mining, delivering it all with humour, vulnerability, musical eclecticism & a seasoned stage presence that will disarm even the stiffest show-goer.

“A creative tour-de-force.”
–San Francisco Chronicle Datebook

RETURNING HIT! “HILARIOUS!” – Georgia Straight.

“RAUCOUSLY FUNNY!” – Showbill Magazine.

From award winning comedian Shawn O'hara comes the uproarious “Field Zoology 101”. Armed with a collection of stories and lessons almost as unbelievable as his credentials, join infamous Field Zoologist Dr Bradley Q Gooseberry as he shares a lifetime of his “knowledge” and “experience” and teaches you how to thrive and survive in the harrowing and hilarious world of field zoology.

This production has played to sold out houses in North America and is a laugh-out- loud evening of comedy for folks of every age. Winner of Best Comedy at Victoria Fringe 2016. (Rating Suggestion - PG 13 recommendation/Language/Themes).

Dr. Gooseberry and his trusty overhead projector take you on a lecture tour of field zoology direct from the Outback!* (steakhouse) to the heart of the Amazon* (Processing Plant). Complete with poorly drawn over head projections of creatures far and wide, the good professor teaches the audience everything from how to seduce the most seductive of snakes to how to fight any animal in hand to hand combat.

About the artist/company
Shawn O’Hara started stand-up comedy in Victoria in 2012, and has performed at JFL NorthWest and the Rifflandia Music Festival. Since 2016 he has performed in award-winning Fringe shows Field Zoology 101 and Fake Ghost Tours.

Credits
Shawn O’Hara – Writer/performer
Jessica Tai – Production Manager
Mike Delamont – Producer

A 1-human musical cabaret of piano, ukulele, guitar, synth and voice, with occasional help from the others in the room (that’s you).

Madeline explores everything from social media to time travel to love to spiritual illness to addiction to ecology to gold mining, delivering it all with humour, vulnerability, musical eclecticism & a seasoned stage presence that will disarm even the stiffest show-goer.

“A creative tour-de-force.”
–San Francisco Chronicle Datebook

From award winning comedian Shawn O'hara comes the uproarious “Field Zoology 101”. Armed with a collection of stories and lessons almost as unbelievable as his credentials, join infamous Field Zoologist Dr Bradley Q Gooseberry as he shares a lifetime of his “knowledge” and “experience” and teaches you how to thrive and survive in the harrowing and hilarious world of field zoology.

This production has played to sold out houses in North America and is a laugh-out- loud evening of comedy for folks of every age. (PG 13 recommendation). Winner of Best Comedy at Victoria Fringe 2016.

Dr. Gooseberry and his trusty overhead projector take you on a lecture tour of field zoology direct from the Outback!* (steakhouse) to the heart of the Amazon* (Processing Plant). Complete with poorly drawn over head projections of creatures far and wide, the good professor teaches the audience everything from how to seduce the most seductive of snakes to how to fight any animal in hand to hand combat.

“RETURNING HIT! “HILARIOUS!” – Georgia Straight.

“RAUCOUSLY FUNNY!” – Showbill Magazine.

About the artist/company
Shawn O’Hara started stand-up comedy in Victoria in 2012, and has performed at JFL NorthWest and the Rifflandia Music Festival. Since 2016 he has performed in award-winning Fringe shows Field Zoology 101 and Fake Ghost Tours.

Credits
Shawn O’Hara – Writer/performer
Jessica Tai – Production Manager
Mike Delamont – Producer

We kick off our 2nd Annual SpeakEasy Festival with our always popular Sunset Cabaret. An evening of song and sketch comedy, all written and performed by local actors and musicians, and visiting artists for the SpeakEasy Festival.

Showtime starts at 8PM - 2 acts @ 45 minutes each then we end the evening with a late night SpeakEasy Party….but don’t tell anyone…..shhhhh Speak….easy……

HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA are a synth pop duo that sing harmonies in English and sign language. Blending their voices and stories into a sound and performance that is truly unlike any other. A PSR 36 synthesizer from 1980 sets the tone and tempo. Their harmonious voices tell stories with heart. The incorporation of sign language allows hearing audience members to experience music in a deeper way and for sign language users to have more access to the lyrics and message behind the music. 

For Ian, it started with the purchase of a Yamaha PSR 36 from Value Village - and has grown into a distinct sound that pushes the boundaries of synthesizer programming - going beyond the parameters it was designed for. The lyricism ranges from fractured poetry to poignant storytelling and narratives. Their sound has been likened to Chromeo and early Gorillaz, mixed with George Harrison.

For Amy, it started with signing along to one of Ian’s songs and realizing that she had lost the majority of her sign language fluency through having a profession that is not centered around the deaf community and interpreting. Her performance fully embraces her bi-lingual and bi-cultural identity as a  CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult) by including both spoken language and signed language. 

“As a band, we work to create art that is meaningful to us. We both have bi-cultural identities, and don't always feel like we can fully be exactly who we are in every time and place. When we are creating or performing, we are in this place where we embrace everything that has made us who we are. And by sharing it we allow these versions of ourselves to be seen.”

Change starts with positive representation. We believe that art has the power to shift perspectives.

BONUS: Come see the debut screening of their documentary, Mother Tongue, on Saturday 29 July.

HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA are a synth pop duo that sing harmonies in English and sign language. Blending their voices and stories into a sound and performance that is truly unlike any other. A PSR 36 synthesizer from 1980 sets the tone and tempo. Their harmonious voices tell stories with heart. The incorporation of sign language allows hearing audience members to experience music in a deeper way and for sign language users to have more access to the lyrics and message behind the music. 

For Ian, it started with the purchase of a Yamaha PSR 36 from Value Village - and has grown into a distinct sound that pushes the boundaries of synthesizer programming - going beyond the parameters it was designed for. The lyricism ranges from fractured poetry to poignant storytelling and narratives. Their sound has been likened to Chromeo and early Gorillaz, mixed with George Harrison.

For Amy, it started with signing along to one of Ian’s songs and realizing that she had lost the majority of her sign language fluency through having a profession that is not centered around the deaf community and interpreting. Her performance fully embraces her bi-lingual and bi-cultural identity as a  CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult) by including both spoken language and signed language. 

“As a band, we work to create art that is meaningful to us. We both have bi-cultural identities, and don't always feel like we can fully be exactly who we are in every time and place. When we are creating or performing, we are in this place where we embrace everything that has made us who we are. And by sharing it we allow these versions of ourselves to be seen.”

Change starts with positive representation. We believe that art has the power to shift perspectives.

BONUS: Come see the debut screening of their documentary, Mother Tongue, on Saturday 29 July.

LittleFox features the original songs of singer/multi-instrumentalist Alison Jenkins. Her first EP, Desire Lines, was released in Spring 2022, and her second EP, Ghost In This House, produced and recorded by World Peach Records, will be released in May 2023. With vocals that can leap from high and ethereal to a whiskey-soaked gutpunch- often in a single song- LittleFox explores genres from folk/pop to bluegrass to blues, featuring thoughtful original songs about love, longing, belonging, women, urban history, and finding your way in strange times.

About the artist

LittleFox features the original songs of singer/multi-instrumentalist Alison Jenkins. Her first EP, Desire Lines, was released in Spring 2022, and her second EP, Ghost In This House, produced and recorded by World Peach Records, will be released in 2023. With vocals that can leap from high and ethereal to a whiskey-soaked gutpunch- often in a single song- LittleFox explores genres from folk/pop to bluegrass to blues. Guided by the textures of violin, pedal steel,  accordion, ukulele, and banjo, and locked in by a rock-solid rhythm section, Jenkins' thoughtful original songs are about love, longing, belonging, missing and murdered women, urban history, and finding your way in strange times. 

Alison has played and sung with many groups, including Something about Reptiles,  Flying Folk Army, Zeellia, and Lone Crow Jubilee. She is also a professional sound designer, composer, actor, and music director for live theatre, performing in shows as varied asOnce (Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver),  Bad Hat Theatre's Peter Pan (Carousel Theatre, Vancouver), and Fiddler on the Roof (Persephone Theatre, Saskatchewan).

LittleFox was born during the pandemic of 2020 when Jenkins  focused first on songwriting, then began turning her songs and demo recordings into EPs and a live band. A singer and multi-instrumentalist, she plays clawhammer banjo, accordion and ukulele live, and also plays bass and percussion on recordings. LittleFox performs live in several configurations, from solo to trio to a five-piece. 

The current band lineup consists of: Alison Jenkins (lead vocals, ukulele, banjo, accordion), Allan Haley (pedal steel, mandolin), Masae Day (violin, vocals), Alex Marr (drums), and David Marr (electric bass, vocals). 

Contact: littlefox604@gmail.com

LittleFox features the original songs of singer/multi-instrumentalist Alison Jenkins. Her first EP, Desire Lines, was released in Spring 2022, and her second EP, Ghost In This House, produced and recorded by World Peach Records, will be released in May 2023. With vocals that can leap from high and ethereal to a whiskey-soaked gutpunch- often in a single song- LittleFox explores genres from folk/pop to bluegrass to blues, featuring thoughtful original songs about love, longing, belonging, women, urban history, and finding your way in strange times.

About the artist

LittleFox features the original songs of singer/multi-instrumentalist Alison Jenkins. Her first EP, Desire Lines, was released in Spring 2022, and her second EP, Ghost In This House, produced and recorded by World Peach Records, will be released in 2023. With vocals that can leap from high and ethereal to a whiskey-soaked gutpunch- often in a single song- LittleFox explores genres from folk/pop to bluegrass to blues. Guided by the textures of violin, pedal steel,  accordion, ukulele, and banjo, and locked in by a rock-solid rhythm section, Jenkins' thoughtful original songs are about love, longing, belonging, missing and murdered women, urban history, and finding your way in strange times. 

Alison has played and sung with many groups, including Something about Reptiles,  Flying Folk Army, Zeellia, and Lone Crow Jubilee. She is also a professional sound designer, composer, actor, and music director for live theatre, performing in shows as varied asOnce (Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver),  Bad Hat Theatre's Peter Pan (Carousel Theatre, Vancouver), and Fiddler on the Roof (Persephone Theatre, Saskatchewan).

LittleFox was born during the pandemic of 2020 when Jenkins  focused first on songwriting, then began turning her songs and demo recordings into EPs and a live band. A singer and multi-instrumentalist, she plays clawhammer banjo, accordion and ukulele live, and also plays bass and percussion on recordings. LittleFox performs live in several configurations, from solo to trio to a five-piece. 

The current band lineup consists of: Alison Jenkins (lead vocals, ukulele, banjo, accordion), Allan Haley (pedal steel, mandolin), Masae Day (violin, vocals), Alex Marr (drums), and David Marr (electric bass, vocals). 

Contact: littlefox604@gmail.com

Jake’s Gift returns to the Sunset Theatre stage this summer on Saturday, July 15th and Friday, September 8th. This multi-award winning play is written and performed by Julia Mackey and Directed by Dirk Van Stralen. It was one of three plays to come out of our inaugural Exploration Series in 2006.

Synopsis:

Jake’s Gift is a surprisingly funny drama about a Canadian WW2 veteran’s reluctant return to Normandy for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.

While revisiting the shores of Juno beach, Jake encounters Isabelle, a precocious 10-year-old from the local village. Isabelle’s inquisitive nature and charm challenge the old soldier to confront some long-ignored ghosts – most notably the war-time death of his eldest brother, Chester, a once promising young musician.

At its heart, Jake’s Gift is about the legacy of remembrance and makes personal the story behind one soldier’s grave.

Written & Performed by Julia Mackey

Directed by Dirk Van Stralen

www.jakesgift.com

The show is 1 Act and runs 65 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets are $20 for Adults, $18 for Sunset Theatre Members and $10 for Teens and Kids. The play is recommended for Ages 10 +