It’s time for the East Van Panto! The Vancouver tradition returns for its 13th season with East Van Panto: West Van Story, a tale of star-crossed lovers from rival (curling) crews.
Photo By Emily Cooper
West Van influencer Holly (Ivy Charles) and her twin, Burn (Meaghan Chenosky), are children of a money hungry mega-developer (Dawn Petten) looking to gentrify Commercial Drive by replacing East Van’s beloved Grandview Lanes with another luxury condo tower. Holly and Burn are members of the Hollyburn Country Club’s Sharks curling squad preparing to compete against the East Side Pets, based at (and living in) Grandview Lanes. When launching the new condo tower an atmospheric river traps Holly and crew in East Van, where she meets the local crews skip Joes Cafe (Ben Brown) and it’s love at first sight. Can the Holly & Joes’ love overcome her family’s ultra-capitalistic ways, renovictions, sky-high housing costs and save East Van’s iconic cross (Tom Pickett) from acrophobia?
In a departure from the traditional fairy tale, playwrights Marcus Youssef (Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio) and Pedro Chamale have dipped into the world of Shakespeare for a bit of Romeo & Juliet via West Side Story for this year’s Panto. As always, composer Veda Hille has crafted a divine digest of musical mash-ups as she tickles the keyboard alongside Kate Johnson on percussion. First time director Chelsea Haberlin guides the cast of comedic geniuses through the songiest and danciest Panto yet, with Amanda Testini returning to choreograph her eighth East Van Panto. West Van Story goes all-in on honouring and mocking local businesses, landmarks and people; in addition to Hollyburn Country Club, Grandview Lanes and the East Van Cross, local icons Joe’s Cafe, Downlow Chicken, Bomber Brewing, Spartacus Gym and Mr Mattress are featured. A heartfelt tribute to the much maligned and beloved Kingsgate Mall anchors a fun centrepiece song and dance. Like any panto, the audience participation make each performance truly unique, cast members’ quick witted interactions encourage even more hearty booing for the villain and call outs of ‘Oh yes it is!’, ‘No it isn’t’ or ‘Look behind you!’.
Photo by Emily Cooper
Every year, Theatre Replacement features theatre students from Studio 58 as part of the ensemble this year including; Izel De Lara, Dylan McNulty and Tresha Thamilchelvan. One of the highlights of any East Van Panto is the Panto Kids; a rotating trio of children that bring squeals of joy and much applause each time they step on stage. The 2025 Panto Kids are: Rosalind Beaver, Greta Flinn, Noa Lin, Dexter Mackenzie-Deveau, Hayden Mangan, Lilah Margolis, Loa Martin, Noemi Martin, Bryony Martyn,
Cluny Martyn, Akin Médiné?Glen, Marlowe Bea Petten, Tasio Pietropaolo, Jasper Podbrey, and Mila Tyler-Hite
Let East Van Panto: West Van Story brings joy to your holiday season with another slapstick satire and heartfelt homage to East Vancouver.
The family-friendly frolic plays until January 4, 2026 at The Cultch York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive.
Tickets and packages are selling fast and available thecultch.com. Showtimes: Evenings 7pm Wednesday – Saturdays, plus Tuesdays December 2, 9, 23 & 30. Matinees 2pm Saturdays & Sundays plus December 23, 24, 26 & 30, 31 + January 2.