West Kootenay Regional Arts Council

The Mosquitos – New Absurdist Theatre
2025-06-12 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-13 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Vancouver) | The Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 5R2, Canada
“Things are changing rather quickly. We no longer share a reality”.
A group of old friends get together for a dinner party, while rumours of an unimaginable change swirl around them. How will they face total transformation?
An absurd comedy of manners with an existential heart, The Mosquitos is original new theatre written and directed by Slocan Valley playwright Marya Folinsbee. With equal parts humour and pathos, The Mosquitos reconsiders our place in the ecosystem, asking;
How do we create a coherent life together when we understand the world so differently?
A meditation on politics, relationships, (mis)information and the role of art in making meaning, The Mosquitos is inspired by absurdist classics like Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros and Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days (and, by life in these times).
This world premiere features a talented ensemble of local performers and artistic team:
Written and Directed by Marya Folinsbee
Featuring Performances by:
Emily Ryan
Kozmo Sammartino
Roger Carter
Patricia McLaughlin
Karmelle Spence-Sing
Lindsay Clague
James Shaw
Aaron Pickett
Mike Funergy
Sound Designer Jeremy Sauer
Projection Designer Brian Lye
Mask & Puppet Designer Elaine Weryshko
Stage Manager Martina Avis
Technical Director Terry Brennan
Production Designer Marya Folinsbee
Creation support from The Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance.
Production support from The BC Arts Council.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

The Mosquitos – New Absurdist Theatre
2025-06-13 19:00 - 21:00 | The Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 5R2, Canada
Material Theatre Presents:

THE MOSQUITOS
“Things are changing rather quickly. We no longer share a reality”.
A group of old friends get together for a dinner party, while rumours of an unimaginable change swirl around them. How will they face total transformation?
An absurd comedy of manners with an existential heart, The Mosquitos is original new theatre written and directed by Slocan Valley playwright Marya Folinsbee. With equal parts humour and pathos, The Mosquitos reconsiders our place in the ecosystem, asking;
How do we create a coherent life together when we understand the world so differently?
A meditation on politics, relationships, (mis)information and the role of art in making meaning, The Mosquitos is inspired by absurdist classics like Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros and Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days (and, by life in these times).
This world premiere features a talented ensemble of local performers and artistic team:
Written and Directed by Marya Folinsbee
Featuring Performances by:
Emily Ryan
Kozmo Sammartino
Roger Carter
Patricia McLaughlin
Karmelle Spence-Sing
Lindsay Clague
James Shaw
Aaron Pickett
Mike Funergy
Sound Designer Jeremy Sauer
Projection Designer Brian Lye
Mask & Puppet Designer Elaine Weryshko
Stage Manager Martina Avis
Technical Director Terry Brennan
Production Designer Marya Folinsbee
Creation support from The Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance.
Production support from The BC Arts Council.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

www.materialtheatre.ca

The Mosquitos – New Absurdist Theatre
2025-06-13 19:30 - 21:30 | The Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 5R2, Canada
“Things are changing rather quickly. We no longer share a reality”.

A group of old friends get together for a dinner party, while rumours of an unimaginable change swirl around them.
How do we face total transformation?
An absurd comedy of manners with an existential heart, The Mosquitos is original new theatre written and directed by Slocan Valley playwright Marya Folinsbee. With equal parts humour and pathos, The Mosquitos reconsiders our place in the ecosystem, asking:How do we live in the world together when we have fundamentally different versions of reality?

A meditation on politics, relationships, (mis)information and the role of art in creating meaning, The Mosquitos is inspired by absurdist classics like Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros and Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days (and by life in these times).

This world premiere features a talented ensemble of local performers and artists:
Written and Directed by Marya Folinsbee
Featuring Performances by:
Emily RyanKozmo SammartinoRoger CarterPatricia McLaughlinKarmelle Spence-SingLindsay ClagueJames ShawAaron PickettMike Funergy

Sound Designer Jeremy SauerProjection Designer Brian LyeMask & Puppet Designer Elaine WeryshkoStage Manager Martina AvisTechnical Director Terry BrennanProduction Designer Marya Folinsbee

Creation support from The Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance.Production support from The BC Arts Council.We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
#BringingTheArtsToLife #Kootenayartist #Nelsonbc

KINGS & THINGS! DRAG IS A SPECTRUM!
2025-06-14 19:00 - 23:00 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
Hosted by The Flailing Lovers!

LILA GRAY featuring JOHNNY POUTINA
2025-06-21 20:00 - 23:30 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
the MORE THAN A KID tour
Raised in the mountains of BC, Lila Gray calls Vancouver home. Through her heartfelt lyrics and skillful songwriting, Lila plumbs the depths of her young adulthood and explores the trials and tribulations of queer womanhood in the 21st century. This young artist found her passion, and eternal love for music at the tender age of five, when she started her classical training through cello. Since then, Lila has picked up singing, songwriting, and guitar to establish her presence as a musician. Shortly after placing in the Top 100 of the 2021 CBC Searchlight Competition, Lila took off to Montreal to pursue a formal education in audio engineering and sound production. Lila’s unique production and intricate lyricism are masterfully executed in her third album Scared Of The Dark (You Should Be Too). Lila has garnered 150,000 streams, and counting, on Spotify.
Featuring support from Nelson local, Johnny Poutina (of The Dancing Legs).

Opening Reception: kt̓kmin uɬ c̓ik̓ʷm (mark and make light)
2025-07-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Oxygen Art Centre, 320 Vernon St Unit-3, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4E4, Canada
Join us at our Opening Reception for kt̓kmin uɬ c̓ik̓ʷm (mark and make light), an exhibition by artists Manuel Axel-Strain and Kalli Van Stone, on Friday, July 18, 2025, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Oxygen Art Centre.

The artists, Manny + Kalli, will be in attendance and we’re very excited to share the new body of work they develop while in residence from July 14 to July 18, 2025. Light refreshments will be provided and the event is free to attend.

More information about the artists and the project can be found here.

Please contact info[at]oxygenartcentre[dot]org with any questions about the event, access to the facility, or for more information about the project.

Trail - Queen City Burlesque Expo
2026-04-11 19:30 - 22:00 | Charles Bailey Theatre, 1501 Cedar Ave, Trail, British Columbia, V1R 4C7, Canada
Queen City Burlesque Expo Returns for Its 7th Season with “Step Into Your Power”
Three-Night Celebration Brings International Performers to the Kootenays, April 11–13
CASTLEGAR/TRAIL/SALMO, BC — The Queen City Burlesque Expo is back, and this year it’s going silver. Now in its seventh season, the landmark Kootenay burlesque event returns April 11–13 with a three-night run across Castlegar, Trail, and Salmo under the theme Step Into Your Power — a celebration of diversity, personal strength, and fearless self-expression.
Headlining this year’s Expo is the internationally acclaimed Jessabelle Thunder, joined by Canadian icons Bettina May and Jezebel Express, alongside performers from around the world converging on the region for one extraordinary weekend. Want to join in on the fun? Character-driven workshops covering movement, modelling, and personal discovery will be offered at Bailey Theatre on Saturday, April 11th, at $25 each and open to everyone.
Show Schedule:
Friday, April 10 — Castle Theatre, Castlegar | 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 11 — Charles Bailey Theatre, Trail | 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 12 — Salmo Hotel Pub & Grill, Salmo | 12:00 PM
Tickets range from $17 to $45 (CAD) and are available now at queencityburlesque.ca.
“The Kootenays deserve world-class live art, and for seven years the Queen City Burlesque Expo has delivered exactly that. This season’s theme, Step Into Your Power, is an invitation to everyone in our community to show up, be seen, and celebrate what makes us distinct. We have an extraordinary lineup, and I cannot wait to share it.” Venessa Loubert, Founder and Artistic Director, Queen City Burlesque Expo
Trail business manager at Copper Magnolia, Dana Gould, echoes that sentiment: “The Expo is great for Trail and its surrounding area. It’s a fun crowd, presenting phenomenal showcases, and the influx of tourism during an otherwise quiet time of the year is a great reason to go out and support the show.”
Now in its seventh year, the Queen City Burlesque Expo has established itself as one of the Kootenays’ most distinctive live arts events, drawing audiences and performers from across Canada and beyond. The Expo is produced by Trail Arts Council along with its Founder and Artistic Director, a four-time Top 5 Canadian Burlesque Producer.
The weekend is sponsored by Trail & District Arts Council, ReDi Grants, Columbia Basin Trust, British Columbia Arts Council, Government of Canada, South Kootenay, and BC Live Performance Network.
For tickets and full event details, visit queencityburlesque.ca.

Salmo - Queen City Burlesque Expo
2026-04-12 12:00 - 14:00 | Salmo Hotel Pub & Grill, 101 Fourth St, Salmo

Nelson - Kootenay Circus Arts Festival
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03 | Discover Circus, 330 Baker St. Suite 302, Nelson, BC, V1L 4H5, Canada
🎪 Kootenay Circus Arts Festival 2026 🎪
Join us in Nelson, BC for a weekend of circus, creativity, and community at the Kootenay Circus Arts Festival (KCAF) presented by Boundless Arts & Events.
Workshops are open to all ages and all experience levels — from complete beginners to experienced circus artists. Come try something new, learn from inspiring instructors, and connect with the circus community!
Festival Schedule
🌍 April 30 – Earth Day Collaboration Event
At the Nelson Youth Centre
• Community film screening of Wild Aerial and Embers by aerial filmmaker Sasha Galitzki
🤸 May 1–3 – Circus Workshops
• Workshops for kids, teens, and adults
• Classes for all levels
• A chance to try aerials, movement, and circus skills in a welcoming environment
🎭 May 2 – Saturday Night Cabaret
A high-energy showcase featuring incredible circus performances.
✨ Everyone is welcome — come try circus!

Nelson - Prevel 2026
2026-05-30 16:00 - 2026-05-31 02:00 | The Eagles Hall Nelson, 641 Baker St, Nelson, BC V1L 4J3, Canada, BC, V1L 4J3, Canada
BPM COMMUNICATIONS and the Revel Music Festival return with another gourmet food and electronic music experience hosted at the Eagles Hall, in Nelson.
DJs: anyaQ – Bass Cat – Blee – Colby Bedford – Christopher Wayne – FGK@ – IN2IT – La Famille (Édou & ABC) – Lexa Voltz – MP – Old Ben – PeteToTheBeat – RAH – Sunny Acres
Performers: Puppets on the Move & silk fans with Célia
Featuring BPM pop-up vegan noodle & mocktail bar, and a supervised play zone for kids with Acorn and Oak from 4pm-8pm.
Join us for a special night as we recreate the energy and atmosphere of the Revel Music Festival with 15 local DJs who have previously performed at Revel.
This unique and inclusive mini-festival is the perfect way to launch festival season!

All-ages until 10pm.

Child (17 and under) – $15
Adult – $40

https://revel.tickit.ca
