The Vancouver theatre scene is roaring back to life in January 2026, offering a powerful and internationally-flavoured lineup to start the new year. Following the post-Christmas lull, stages across the city will host a compelling collection of works focused on diverse human struggles, from war and immigration to love and language. This global perspective, featuring productions from multiple countries, sets a poignant tone for the year ahead, perhaps in anticipation of major world events like the FIFA World Cup or hopes for lasting peace.
A Theatrical Celebration of Global Voices
The influential PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is a key driver of this international focus, presenting 25 productions from 17 different nations. This commitment to global storytelling provides Vancouver audiences with a unique window into lives and experiences from around the world. The January selections powerfully reflect this mission, putting intimate, human-scale stories of perseverance and connection in the spotlight.
You’re Just a Place That I Know
Running from January 21 to February 1 at the BMO Theatre Centre, this theatrical concert delves into personal history. Created and performed by Juno-nominated artist Adrian Glynn McMorran, the piece explores the story of his Ukrainian grandparents who immigrated to Canada after the Second World War. McMorran, alongside six other performers including Chelsea Rose Winsby and Marlene Ginander, uses music, song, and narrative to bring this family saga to life, supported by a multi-generational choir. Directed by Marcus Youssef, tickets start at $29.
The Golden Anniversaries
Playwright Mark Crawford, known for hits like Bed & Breakfast and The Birds & the Bees, returns to the Arts Club with a new two-hander. The Golden Anniversaries runs at the Granville Island Stage from January 22 to February 15. The play focuses on a couple marking their 50th wedding anniversary, though the celebration reveals that all is not perfect. Hailed in Ontario reviews as dark, tender, and open-hearted, it stars seasoned actors Peter Anderson and Eileen Barrett under the direction of Arthi Chandra. Tickets are available from $29.
Eight Short Compositions from the Lives of Ukrainians for a Western Audience
Presented as part of the PuSh Festival, this North American premiere comes from the Czech Republic’s Archa-Center of Documentary Theatre. It will be staged at the Waterfront Theatre on January 22 and 23. In collaboration with Vancouver Poetry House, five multilingual performers use text, music, and movement to shift focus away from the battlefield. Instead, they highlight the enduring power of love, hope, and care—the small, daily acts of living that persist amidst the shadow of war. Tickets are priced at $39 and $59.
English
One of the most anticipated plays of the season, English by Sanaz Toossi will be at the Firehall Arts Centre from January 23 to February 1. The 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning play and Tony Award finalist follows four Iranian adults as they study for an English proficiency exam in a classroom near Tehran. Acclaimed for its intelligence, quiet humour, and profound evocation of grief, it was called a "masterpiece" by Variety and "stunning" by The Guardian. This production by Blackout Art Society is directed by Amir N. Hosseini, with tickets ranging from $30 to $39.
Kickstarting Your Cultural New Year
From a Ukrainian-Canadian family history to a classroom in Iran, Vancouver's January theatre offerings promise a rich, thought-provoking start to 2026. These five must-see plays demonstrate the power of live performance to connect us with stories of resilience from across the globe, right in our own city. It's a perfect opportunity for audiences to engage with diverse narratives of struggle, love, and identity as the new year unfolds.
