Firehall Arts Centre

The Firehall Theatre Society/ Firehall Arts Centre is looking for Board Members!
The Firehall is committed to connecting communities and showcasing provocative performing and visual arts reflective of the diversity of Canada. If you are curious or have experiences in arts/not-for-profit management or governance, facilities management, finance, fundraising, HR, marketing or risk, we want to hear from you!

Please click HERE for more information.

Reach out or apply with a letter of interest and resume to Jenn (jennefong@gmail.com) by Nov 13th, 2020.

I Walked The Line (written and performed by Allan Morgan)
October 15th – October 25th, 2020
A Firehall Arts Centre Presentation
A play about unions, treachery, solidarity, porta potties, baked goods, and hope. Allan Morgan is a luminary of the Canadian stage, having spent a lifetime as a professional actor working with companies such as Bard on the Beach, Arts Club Theatre, Theatre Calgary, The Citadel, Touchstone Theatre, and more. When his acting career slowed down, he did what he had to do – he got another job, which landed him in the mailroom of a union headquarters. In July of 2016, the union went on strike and Allan found himself on the picket line with his union sisters and brothers, which was the impetus for I Walked The Line – a 70-minute performance that takes audiences on a roller coaster ride of emotions, transforming the stage to the picket line in celebration of that solidarity, the people, and the storm of emotions the fight for change brought to all those who walked the line for 132 days. Directed by Ross Desprez, I Walked The Line is produced by Bread and Roses Theatre and sponsored by The Other Guys Theatre.

In the Beginning
November 4th, 2020 – November 7th, 2020
Produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre
Storyteller, filmmaker and performer Rosemary Georgeson, and the Firehall’s Artistic Producer Donna Spencer, delve into the history of the Indigenous peoples in the area that is now called Vancouver prior to and during colonization. This is the second stage of the exploration of the many individuals and groups from different cultural heritages who have made the East Side and in particular Strathcona, Chinatown, Gastown, and Japantown the neighbourhoods they are today.
A Heart of the City Festival event.

The Amaryllis
November 12th, 2020 – November 22nd, 2020
A World Premiere Produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and The Search Party
In this premiere production written by Michele Riml and directed by The Search Party’s award-winning Artistic Director Mindy Parfitt, the audience is transported into the fascinating, quirky world of Lucy and Jeremy Keener (Shawn Macdonald). Lucy is a terrifically talented voice over artist and Jeremy is her troubled agent, who would sooner jump off a cliff before ever following a dream of his own. Sister and brother for better or for worse, these two are inextricably bound. The amaryllis plant – a mysterious gift from a mysterious giver – takes on a strange power over their lives. The Amaryllis is mystery about what it really takes to grow and a comedy about what it really takes to change.

Solstice Greetings
December 10th-12th & 17th-19th, 2020
Returning for a third year, Solstice Greetings is the sharing of stories, songs, and seasonal greetings in celebration of the return of the light.

Chapter 21
January 13th, 2021 – January 16th, 2021
A World Premiere Presented by Firehall Arts Centre and Produced by Raven Spirit Dance, in association with the PHT Creative Hub Cooperative.
In this dance/theatre piece choreographed by Starr Muranko and directed by Yvette Nolan, Chapter 21 explores what happens when a vibrant, active artist comes face to face with a crippling collision of events. Chapter 21 is a reflection on the days that have come to pass, and the art of becoming. A new baby boy; Chromosome 21; the big “C” diagnosis, 21 days between treatments, and 21 days to re-pattern beliefs; Courage; Faith; Resilience.

Please stay tuned for the announcement of additional shows and dates.

In October, in the theatre, we will launch our first of the Salon/Saloon Series with the presentation of Allan Morgan’s one man show, I Walked the Line – a piece that reflects in his generous and humorous manner, his experience walking the line with members of the BC Nurses Union. Following that, as part of the Heart of the City Festival, we will share more stories in our Opening Doors series with a special look at the history and connections of Indigenous communities to this neighbourhood.

While we continue to work on programming for the balance of the year, we are focusing on November, December and January using the Salon/Saloon model of limiting audiences to fifty. At this point not all of the proposed programming is contracted but we hope by mid-August to announce all of the works that will carry us through this time period. We anticipate there will be a minimum of four different productions you will be able to utilize your Early Bird passes for before the end of January. We ask you continue to have faith until such time as all the details are worked out. With only fifty tickets available per performance, Early Bird passes are going quickly with the deadline for final purchase on July 31.

Click here to buy yours while they’re still available!

We are excited to be hosting the Dancing on the Edge festival again this summer!

A combination of live and streamed performances, we’re looking forward to having patrons back to the theatre in both capacities.

Please follow this link for a full schedule.

Live performance can be purchased here.

Virtual performances can be purchased here.

In a new initiative to keep engaging our wonderful patrons, we are releasing, “Dramatic Pause: Conversations about the Arts.” Donna Spencer, our Artistic Producer, will be interviewing Canadian artists, covering an array of topics from each artists lives, to the role of art, and it’s importance, especially now, in the current climate.

As an homage to many years of collaboration, our first interviewee will be David Diamond, Artistic Director of Theatre for Living. Theatre for Living has produced many shows at the Firehall over the years, the last being šxʷʔam̓ət (Home).

Every year many of patrons purchase Early Bird passes to Firehall season’s offerings. They are a great deal with savings ranging from 10% to 28% depending on which pass program purchasers subscribe too and allow purchasers to chose which shows from the Firehall season of between ten to twelve different productions that they wish to attend.

In this uncertain time, the Firehall is asking patrons to take a leap of faith with us and invest in the 2020-2021 upcoming season. And what will that season be? That is a great question and this is the part where the leap of faith comes in. Artistic Producer Donna Spencer is planning a fall season of events entitled the Salon Series. This series will feature primarily theatre but will, also, include music and dance designed for audiences of 50 or less. Reflective of the current public assembly guidelines of 50, not including staff and crew, set by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry this number allows for a creative team of artists and customer services staff of ten. Through undertaking this scale of programming not only will the Firehall be able to ensure our audiences, artists and venue support staff are safe within the current physical distancing and PPE’s guidelines but will provide opportunities for audiences to enjoy the live performing arts again in an intimate setting. When public assembly limits are increased, which we hope is sooner rather than later, the venue seating will be increased accordingly.

So while we are still in programming stages for the 2020-2021 season, we are planning ten to twelve different productions including our production with Savage Society of Taran Kootenhayoo’s White Noise; Touchstone’s production in association with the Firehall of Adam Grant Warren’s Lights , which unfortunately, were postponed because of the pandemic. Other works could include Manami Hara’s Courage Now ; a remount of our co-production with Puente Theatre of Elaine Avila’s FADO, The Saddest Music in the World ; Rice & Beans’ Yellow Objects ; Yvonne Wallace’s Utzan; more stories from the East side in Opening Doors ; a work in progress showing of Starr Muranko’s Chapter 21 and Allan Morgan’s I Walked The Line, just to name a few. More details will be released about programming as contracts for productions are confirmed.

Early Bird passes come in two flavours: The Full Pack for $79 which allows you to attend four productions through the season and the Four Pack Flex for $100 which allows you to mix and match as you please allowing you to bring guests with you or see your favourite show more than once.

Should the Firehall be forced to shut down operations because of COVID-19, any passes or tickets left on passes purchased will be refunded.

Early Bird passes are available beginning June 8th until July 31, 2020.