Have a Senior Moment Festival 2026
September 25 – October 4
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
581 Cardero Street, Vancouver B.C. & other venues as listed.
Western Gold’s HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL is an event that turns the notion of “have a senior moment” (normally understood as a moment of forgetfulness, a foolish mistake, or a lack of understanding based on age) on its head!
A multi-disciplinary series of events and gatherings showcasing the performing arts for old folx and/or by old folx, HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL provides a gathering place for young, old, and those in between. The festival includes theatre, works in development, music, creative workshops, artist salons, and more—all celebrating the notion that Creativity Has No Expiry Date!
Artistic Director Tanja Dixon-Warren says, “I wanted to change the perception of seniors “having a moment” and reclaim the term to mean a moment showing older adults living their lives in richness, fullness, and in relationship with their communities and environments. I wanted to do this by giving senior artists a moment and by encouraging the voices of senior artists who, with so much life experience, are daring to be bold and are creating from their hearts!”
THEATRE
FESTIVAL HEADLINER
Friday, Sept 25th – Sunday Sept 27th
ANNIVERSARY
by Carol Shields and Dave Williamson
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
A comedy about love marriage and EVERYTHING that falls apart…A bit raunchy, a bit serious, and wonderfully hilarious!
An OOF! (On Our Feet) Staged Reading
Directed by Anna Hagan
CAST
Annabel Kershaw: Shirley
Denyse Wilson: Dianne
Tom McBeath: Ben
Sandy Winsby: Tom
Sean Sonier: Garth
SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE
September 4th – September 27th
United Players in association with Western Gold presents
RUNNING WILDE
By John Lazarus | Directed by Roy Surette
Jericho Arts Centre
At 27, young Oscar Wilde embarked on a hugely successful one-man lecture tour of North America. The tour went like clockwork… except when he missed a connection in straight, stuffy Kingston, Ontario. Lazarus imagines what might have happened next – a tangled, farcical web of seductions, betrayals, blackmailings and happy endings.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2, 7:30pm
YUK IT UP!
The Comedy of Janice Bannister and 55+ Improv Showcase
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
Brace yourself for some chuckles and belly laughs! Known as ‘comedy mama’, renowned and beloved comedian Janice Bannister brings her smart, cheeky and always hilarious observations of ‘senior’ life to the PAL stage. But, before she tickles your funny bone, cheer on the brave participants of the 55+ IMPROV class, as the ‘opening act’ as they ‘throw it down’ with suggestions from you.
55+ Workshop led by Syd Campbell
It’s a night of hilarity, good vibes and an all-around joyous time!
PAY-WHAT-YOU CHOOSE (Suggested $15)
Pay at the door or reserve your seat now
PLAY READINGS
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30th – 7:30PM
BLUE HEAVEN
by Michael Armstrong
Directed by Johnna Wright
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
Helen and Robert are both successful artists late in their careers. Once, years ago, they were married. Inspired by the life and work of British sculptor, Barbara Hepworth, Blue Heaven explores how marriages may end but families never really do.
$20
Pay at the door or reserve your seat now
THURSDAY OCTOBER 1st – 7:30PM
ADRIFT
by Dolores Drake
Directed by Johnna Wright
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
ADRIFT follows the story of three generations of Newfoundland women, A Grandmother, A Mother, and a Daughter, all who find themselves in a similar circumstances: waiting for a man to come home from the sea. It explores themes of Love ,Loss, Tragedy ,Conflict, Choices and Lack of Choice, and how things can repeat themselves in families. By Telling the story in three separate monologues, Dolores Drake’s hope is to highlight how alone they are with their individual problems.
$20
Pay at the door or reserve your seat now
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3rd – 7:30PM
BREAKING PARITY
By Valerie Sing Turner
in partnership with Visceral Visions
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
December 2002. In a nod to Dickens, a Scrooge-like Henry A. Kissinger encounters spirits from the past, present, and future: a Laotian man whose village was annihilated by American bombs; a female Chinese-American nuclear physicist who worked with Oppenheimer to build the first atomic bomb; and a silent Vietnamese girl. A political satire about power and geopolitics
$20
Pay at the door or reserve your seat now
POPCORN AND A MOVIE
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29th – 2:00 PM
SILVER SCREAMERS & THE RUG
A Film by Mythic Productions Inc.
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
Silver Screamers is a heartwarming and spine-tingling documentary that follows a spirited group of senior citizens who set out to make a horror film. Led by a local filmmaker, they navigate the challenges of low-budget movie-making with humour, heart, and resilience. Silver Screamers is a joyful celebration of second acts and fearless reinvention.
THE RUG is the film they made! It centres on Edna, a senior aged woman who discovers that a discarded throw rug she has found will, for lack of a better word, digest anything left under it. The more it digests, the more it wants. After devouring her pesky landlord and a nosey cop, the rug has gotten so frisky that Edna finds herself trapped in her own home with no way out. Based on the short story by Edo van Belkom.
PAY-WHAT-YOU CHOOSE (Suggested $10)
Pay at the door or reserve your seat now
PARTIES
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2, 3:00pm-4:30pm
NATIONAL SENIORS DAY CELEBRATION
DANCE PARTY
In partnership with West End Seniors’ Network
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
Let’s Dance & Celebrate!
Dance, laugh, move, and connect! Discover your inner Donna Summers or John Travolta and hit the dance floor! Disco dancing is a fun way to boost your heart, brain, and mood while making new friends.
Come celebrate National Seniors’ Day with us!
Put on your dancing shoes and let’s get grooving!
Cash Bar and complimentary popcorn!
PAY-WHAT–YOU CHOOSE. At the door or in advance
Suggested minimum $5
Photo Credit: Chris Randle
SUNDAY OCTOBER 4th – 1:00pm – 6:00pm
CLOSING CELEBRATION:
MÉTIS KITCHEN PARTY & FEAST
in partnership with Full Circle: First Nations Performance, the Talking Stick Festival and V’ni Dansi
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
Close the festival with an uplifting celebration of Métis Culture. Stop by for some bannock, learn how to dance a jig, or simply kick back and take it all in. Featuring the internationally renowned Louis Riel Métis Dancers, beloved Storyteller Tom McCallum , award winning songstress Sandy Scofield this is guaranteed to be hand clapping, feet stomping full-on fiddling fun for the whole family! The afternoon culminates in a catered feast for all.
PAY-WHAT-YOU CHOOSE (Suggested $20)
At the door or in advance | **Advance booking recommended**
SALONS
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29th – 6:00-10:00pm
SCRIPTS & SIPS
In partnership with Curious Cats Theatre Collective
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
Back by popular demand! Playwrights, screenwriters, actors and audience come together to read and discuss the process of developing scripts. The uniqueness of the experience comes not only from its casual salon atmosphere (cash bar and complimentary popcorn!) and feedback by industry pros, but the excitement of a script brought to life with a cold reading by actors in attendance – cast on the spot at the start the event!
6:00 PM: Actor / Cold Read Registration. Actors (and those who wanna–be!) are invited and encouraged to support the writers in the role of ‘cold cast’ readers! Sign up at the casting table in the theatre lobby, grab a glass of wine and mingle. But don’t go too far! We may want to hand you a script!
7:30 PM: Readings – and the real excitement begins!
PAY-WHAT–YOU CHOOSE (Suggested $15) At the door or in advance
Reserve now before it’s too late!
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2, 12:00pm-2:00pm
WHERE THE SPARK STARTS
Playwright Salon with John Lazarus , David Geary, Elaine Avila and Friends
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
Playwrights are the ‘spark’ and genesis of it all. So…where does the idea come from? How does it get from page to stage? Hang out and chat with those who are considered the foundational architects of theatre and who provide the blueprint for live performance. Hear about how they wrestle with story, expectations, actors, directors, deadlines, writer’s block and battling to get their play to the stage.
Fun Fact: It is spelled playwright because the suffix comes from the old word “wright,” which means a builder or craftsperson, rather than the action of writing
Includes tea and light snacks.
PAY-WHAT–YOU CHOOSE (Suggested $15) At the door or in advance
Reserve now before it’s too late!
WORKSHOPS
MONDAYS, SEPTEMBER 14, 21, 28, 7:00pm-8:30pm
55+ IMPROV
In partnership with Blind Tiger Comedy
SHOWCASE: OCTOBER 2, 7:30pm
PAL STUDIO THEATRE
It’s a 4 session improv jam for folks 55+ which culminates in a showcase (for those who choose) for family and friends.
Led by Syd Campbell , this Improv workshop consists of fun games that will give you a taste of the joy, confidence, and discovery that improv can offer. No experience necessary! Whether you are comfortable performing or have never taken the stage, this series of workshops will make folks feel welcome, laugh, and learn a bit more about improvisation and collaborative storytelling.
*Please note, workshop participation is for people 55 and older.*
Showcase attendance is open to all
PAY-WHAT –YOU – CHOOSE (Suggested minimum $50 for all 4 sessions including Showcase.)
Limited spots available
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 10:30am – 12:30pm
CEDAR BRACELET MAKING
In partnership with Full Circle: First Nations Performance, the Talking Stick Festival and West End Seniors’ Network
at BARCLAY MANOR: Piano Room
Join Leonard “Tiger” WIlliams, a master cedar weaver and member of the Quatsino First Nation, for a hands-on workshop designed to foster deeper understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture through the art of traditional cedar weaving. With over 20 years’ experience, Leonard brings knowledge passed down through generations to guide participants in creating their own cedar pieces while learning about the cultural significance and ecological practices tied to this ancient art form. This workshop is open to all and encourages cultural appreciation and awareness.
Supplies included
PAY-WHAT –YOU CHOOSE ( Suggested minimum $15)
Limited spots available
THURSDAY OCTOBER 1, 1:00pm-4:00pm
PEN TO PAGE: PLAYWRITING
In partnership with West End Seniors’ Network
at BARCLAY MANOR: Multi-Purpose Room
Playwright and teacher John Lazarus contends that there are two sides to the process of writing a play: constructing the plot from a godlike point of view on the “outside,” and improvising the dialogue from “inside” the characters’ minds and hearts. In this workshop he will introduce participants to each of those two sides, with enjoyable group games that replicate the process a playwright goes through, one for each side of the process: a plot-construction game played by the entire class as a group, and a dialogue-construction game played by the participants in pairs. John’s workshops customarily feature lots of laughs.
Bring a pen and a notebook.
PAY-WHAT –YOU – CHOOSE (Suggested minimum $15)
Limited spots available
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2, 11:00am-1:00pm
FINGERWEAVING FOR SASH-MAKING
In partnership with Full Circle: First Nations Performance, the Talking Stick Festival and West End Seniors’ Network
at BARCLAY MANOR: Multi-Purpose Room
Get ready for the Métis Kitchen Party & Feast on Oct 4 by making your own mini-sash. Elio Homier keeps it simple, accessible and always beautiful. After exploring the rich history of the sash and its significance in Métis and French Canadian cultures, you’ll learn the centuries-old technique and create your own miniature sash. Everyone welcome.
Supplies included
PAY-WHAT –YOU – CHOOSE (Suggested minimum $15)
Limited spots available
Creativity has no expiry date!
Contact Us
Phone: 604-363-5734
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
PO Box 93513,
Vancouver RPO Nelson Park, BC V6E 4L7
Contact Us
Phone: 604-363-5734
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
PO Box 93513,
Vancouver RPO Nelson Park, BC V6E 4L7
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Supported By
The McGrane-Pearson Endowment Fund,
held at Vancouver Foundation
Stewart Fund,
held at Vancouver Foundation
Gibson Family Fund
held at Vancouver Foundation
Community Partners
We gratefully acknowledge that we are on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam),Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. We deeply thank them for so generously allowing us to live, work, and play on their beautiful lands.
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