The Royal Canadian Theatre Company is gearing up for its 2023-24 season — and you can get your season tickets now.
The company opens its season with The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery, onstage in Surrey Oct. 26 to 29 and in New Westminster Nov. 3 to 5.
New Westminster resident Kerri Norris directs the play, written by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr., which promises a night of “physical comedy, innuendo and silly moments galore.”
The show follows a community theatre’s ambitious attempt to stage the cunning whodunit Murder at Checkmate Manor — as five actors playing 14 different characters struggle to pull off opening night, with the assistance of a frenzied stage manager.
“The only problem with being in this play is that I won’t get to see it from the audience! It’s a privilege to be this ridiculous,” said performer Justine Jones.
The Surrey resident takes on the role of Mrs. Reece, the doyenne of the group, who must rise to the occasion and come up with an inventive solution when everything unravels.
For New West’s Patricia Brooke, the costume designer, the show comes with another up side: “My favourite part of the show is getting to relive my childhood in the '80s looking for costumes."
The show's New Westminster run will once again feature a relaxed performance, with sensory-friendly technical adjustments to make the performance easier to enjoy for people with physical, mental or behavioural disabilities or those with mental health struggles.
Season tickets are now available for the company’s New Westminster and Surrey series; you can save 20 per cent on the regular ticket price.
The Royal Canadian Theatre Co. season will also include a December pantomime production of Cinderella and a spring production of Michael Jacobs' comedy Cheaters.
Individual tickets are $34.99 regular, or $29.99 for those aged 60+ or 12 and under. Family packs of four tickets are available for $130, while groups of 10 can book for $24.99 per ticket. Note that family, group and season tickets must be bought by phone.
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery onstage
NEW WESTMINSTER
- Where: Anvil Theatre, 777 Columbia St.
- When: Nov. 3 to 5, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances; relaxed performance Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
- Tickets: 604-521-5050 or ticketsnw.ca
SURREY
- Where: Surrey Arts Centre
- When: Oct. 26 to 29, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances
- Tickets: 604-501-5566 or tickets.surrey.ca
