Have a Senior Moment Festival 2026

The 2026 HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL brings 10 days of theatre, works in development, music, film, creative workshops, artist salons and more — all celebrating the notion that Creativity Has No Expiry Date! Now in its 4th year, Western Gold Theatre's multi-disciplinary festival showcases performing arts for and by senior artists (55+), and provides a gathering place for young, old, and everyone in between. FESTIVAL HEADLINER: ANNIVERSARY Fri Sept 25 – Sun Sept 27 at PAL Studio Theatre — By Carol Shields and Dave Williamson, directed by Anna Hagan. An On Our Feet! (OOF!) staged reading. A comedy about love, marriage and everything that falls apart: recently separated couple Dianne and Tom get together to divide their assets on – of all days – their anniversary, only to be surprised by old friends who don't know they've parted. Starring Annabel Kershaw, Denyse Wilson, Tom McBeath, Sandy Winsby and Sean Sonier. Fri 7:30pm ($40); Sat 2pm ($35) & 7:30pm ($40); Sun 2pm ($35). Tickets. SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE: RUNNING WILDE Fri Sept 4 – Sun Sept 27 at Jericho Arts Centre — A United Players presentation in association with Western Gold Theatre. By John Lazarus, directed by Roy Surette. At 27, young Oscar Wilde embarks on a hugely successful lecture tour of North America that goes off the rails in straight-laced Kingston, Ontario — a tangled, farcical web of seductions, betrayals and blackmailings. Adults $40, seniors $35, students with ID $15; preview Thurs Sept 3 all tickets $20. Tickets. READINGS OF NEW PLAYS IN DEVELOPMENT All readings $20, at PAL Studio Theatre: Blue Heaven by Michael Armstrong — Wed Sept 30, 7:30pm. Tickets. Adrift by Dolores Drake — Thu Oct 1, 7:30pm. Tickets. Breaking Parity by Valerie Sing Turner, in partnership with Visceral Visions — Sat Oct 3, 7:30pm. Tickets. POPCORN & A MOVIE: SILVER SCREAMERS & THE RUG Tue Sept 29, 2pm at PAL Studio Theatre — Pay-what-you-choose (suggested $10). A heartwarming and spine-tingling documentary following a spirited group of seniors who set out to make a horror film, paired with the short film they made, based on the story by Edo van Belkom. Tickets. SCRIPTS & SIPS SALON Tue Sept 29, 6–10pm at PAL Studio Theatre, presented with Curious Cats Theatre Collective — Pay-what-you-choose (suggested $15). Playwrights, screenwriters, actors and audience come together to read and discuss the process of developing scripts, with a script cast on the spot for a cold reading. Tickets. NATIONAL SENIORS DAY DANCE PARTY Fri Oct 2, 3–4:30pm at PAL Studio Theatre, with West End Seniors' Network — Free / pay-what-you-choose (suggested $5). A disco dance party with cash bar and complimentary popcorn. Book now. CLOSING CELEBRATION: MÉTIS KITCHEN PARTY & FEAST Sun Oct 4, 1–6pm at PAL Studio Theatre, in partnership with Full Circle: First Nations Performance, the Talking Stick Festival and V'ni Dansi — Pay-what-you-choose (suggested $20). An uplifting celebration of Métis culture with bannock, jigging lessons, performances by the Louis Riel Métis Dancers, storyteller Tom McCallum and singer-songwriter Sandy Scofield, capped off with a catered feast. Book now. CREATIVE WORKSHOPS 55+ Improv with Blind Tiger Comedy — Mondays Sept 14, 21 & 28, 7–8:30pm, plus a showcase Oct 2 at 7:30pm, at PAL Studio Theatre. Pay-what-you-choose (suggested $50 for all 4 sessions). Cedar Bracelet Making with Leonard "Tiger" Williams (Quatsino First Nation) — Wed Sept 23, 10:30am–12:30pm, Barclay Manor. Suggested $15. Pen to Page: Playwriting with John Lazarus — Thu Oct 1, 1–4pm, Barclay Manor. Suggested $15. Fingerweaving for Sash-Making with Elio Homier — Fri Oct 2, 11am–1pm, Barclay Manor. Suggested $15. Plus artist salons and more throughout the festival — full descriptions and reservations for every event above are on the Western Gold Theatre website. Unless noted otherwise, events take place at PAL Studio Theatre, 581 Cardero St. in Vancouver's West End. Find the full schedule and book tickets at westerngoldtheatre.org.