The Port Theatre Society presents some of the most exciting touring artists available, every one of them showcasing artistic excellence and innovation. At the heart of the Spotlight Series is a passion to create access to diverse and authentic experiences for our audiences. Choose from a variety of unique, bold, and exciting events!
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2025-2026 Spotlight Season
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Afrique en Cirque
Cirque Kalabanté
Friday October 3, 2025 @7:30pm
A handful of daring acrobats perform accompanied by the pulsating rhythm of the djembes of Guinea, and the melodious sound of the Kora. Take a trip to Africa where the sets and costumes pay homage to the Guinean diaspora through high level acrobatics, innovative choreography and colourful rhythms.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Take This Waltz
Celebrating the Music of Leonard Cohen
Wednesday October 29, 2025 @7:30pm
Take this Waltz: Celebrating the Music of Leonard Cohen is an operatic and contemporary dance performance, inspired by the music of the Canadian legend Leonard Cohen. It aims to broaden the idea of how vocalism, contemporary dance, instrumentation, and the visual arts can be applied to well-established works, without diluting their unique qualities.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: The Lightfoot Band
Featuring the original band members
Tuesday November 11, 2025 @8:00pm
The Lightfoot Band features the original band members that recorded many memorable hits and toured internationally with the late, great Gordon Lightfoot. Together, they are keeping Gordon’s music alive; playing such hits, as Sundown, Carefree Highway, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Beautiful, Early Morning Rain, as well as some deeper cuts, not heard live for decades.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Pisuwin
Atlantic Ballet of Canada
Friday November 14, 2025 @7:30pm
An epic first-ever Wolastoq story-ballet from the award-winning director and choreographer Igor Dobrovolskiy. Featuring multi-disciplinary artist Nipahtuwet Naka Wespahtuwet (Possesom) Paul (Wolastoqiyik, Sitansisk First Nation) and set to the soaring music of Polaris Prize and Juno award-winning composer Jeremy Dutcher (Wolastoqiyik, Neqotkuk First Nation).
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Bear Grease The Musical
A LightningCloud Production
Saturday December 6, 2025 @7:30pm
Bear Grease The Musical reimagines the iconic 1972 musical Grease through a bold and comedic native lens. With a rip-roaring score by Crystle Lightning and Henry Cloud Andrade, and direction by Crystle Lightning, this all-Indigenous, concert-style musical infuses hip-hop and comedy into a pow wow-powered love story that’s equal parts hilarious homage and cultural celebration.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Winter Harp
Christmas Magic
Saturday December 13, 2025 @3:30pm
Glorious music and song combine with festive stories to warm your heart and wrap you in the Christmas spirit. Velvet gowns, golden instruments, candles, and backdrops of cathedrals and snow combine to transport you to another time and place.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: International Guitar Night
World-Class Musicians
Friday January 30, 2026 @7:30pm
The 26th Canadian Tour of International Guitar Night features: Caroline Planté, Itamar Erez, Jamie Dupuis and Jocelyn Gould.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Carmina Burana & T'əl
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Friday February 6, 2026 @7:30pm
One of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s most requested productions, Carmina Burana is a feast for the senses - visually stunning, musically absorbing, and emotionally pounding. T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods marks a bold new chapter in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s repertoire. Choreographed by RWB School alumnus, Choreographer Cameron Fraser-Monroe, this West Coast première unfolds an Indigenous legend through the lens of a fully Indigenous creative team.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: UPU
A Journey Through the Heartbeat of Pacific Poetry
Tuesday February 24, 2026 @7:30pm
An electrifying celebration of Māori and Pasifika literature brings the powerful voices of Oceania to life by international award-winning collective UPU. Curated by poet Grace Iwashita-Taylor and led by powerhouse director Fasitua Amosa, this acclaimed theatrical work consists of the upu (meaning ‘words’) from 23 poets, including young activists, Poet Laureates and literary prize winners.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Ballet Kelowna
Vividus: Full of Life
The Vividus: Full of Life program features a stunning lineup of signature works from Ballet Kelowna’s contemporary ballet repertoire. Inspired by daydreams and longing, Kirsten Wicklund’s The Forever Part is a poignant ensemble piece exploring the inherent tension of the permanence of forever. Rounding out the program, Guillaume Côté applies his fresh, artistic vision to a jovial rendition of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Le Carnaval des Animaux.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Netflix's The Making of Life on Our Planet
Netflix/BBC
Four billion years. Millions of species. Five mass extinction events (and counting). It’s the story of Life on Our Planet. From the Emmy® Award-winning team behind Netflix’s Our Planet series, comes a new natural history speaker series event: The Making of Life On Our Planet.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Juliet & Romeo
Lost Dog
A humorous and heartfelt duet about love, loss and longevity. It turns out that Romeo and Juliet didn’t die in a tragic misunderstanding… even worse, they got married.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
SPOTLIGHT: Alice in Wonderland
Ballet Victoria
Wednesday May 20, 2026 @7:30pm
Ballet Victoria’s full-length ballet, Alice in Wonderland is rich with animated projections, clever sets, and beautiful costumes. The choreography is imaginative and playful while showcasing classical bravura and pantomime. Expect all the iconic characters of the story and a few surprises.
Coffee Concerts
The Port Theatre Society Presents
4 PACK - Coffee Concert
Available Until October 5
Sunday October 5, 2025 @11:59pm
Get tickets to all 4 coffee concerts for the price of 3 & SAVE $40!
The Port Theatre Society Presents
COFFEE CONCERT: Pocket Symphonies
Morning Concert with Coffee & Treats
Tuesday October 7, 2025 @10:30am
Pocket Symphonies with the Bergmann Duo, Jasper Wood, violin and Sungyong Lim, cello ‘Pocket’ ensembles offer an opportunity to bring a fresh and new take on a much beloved work such as Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. The cornerstone classical masterpiece is probably one of the most well-known pieces of all time and this ‘pocket’ version by Carl Burchard for one piano 4 hands, violin and cello leaves nothing out in terms of…
The Port Theatre Society Presents
COFFEE CONCERT: Ty Koch
Morning Concert with Coffee & Treats
Tuesday November 25, 2025 @10:30am
Ty Koch is a vocalist known for his versatile musical style that blends original songs with blues influences, classical art songs, crooner tunes, popular ballads, and vintage rock & roll. His songwriting journey began in his teenage years, leading to collaborations with various artists across different genres.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
COFFEE CONCERT: Sarah Hagen
Morning Concert with Coffee & Treats
Tuesday March 3, 2026 @10:30am
In Wonder Women!, pianist and humourist Sarah Hagen delves into the remarkable stories and piano music of forgotten female composers from the classical repertoire. This recital will highlight piano works by 18th and 19th century composers, including Clara Schumann, Cécile Chaminade, Dora Pejačević, and others.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
COFFEE CONCERT: Cheng² Duo
Morning Concert with Coffee & Treats
Tuesday April 21, 2026 @10:30am
Rooted by a sibling bond that transcends the familial, the JUNO-nominated Cheng² Duo (pronounced Cheng Squared Duo) transfixes listeners through its impassioned expressivity, contagious joy, and a rare ability to forge instant and lasting connections with global audiences.
Spotlight Dinners
Want to enhance your evening out at the theatre?
The Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo offers theatrically themed
3-course meals on the night of each main Spotlight event.
Friday, October 3, 2025
AFRIQUE EN CIRQUE MENU
EMAIL the Courtyard Bistro to make your dinner reservation.
* Additional menus will be added closer to the show dates. *
