The Western Gold Theatre HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL returns September 25 to October 4. The 2026 festival brings 10 days of theatre, works in development, music, film, creative workshops, artist salons, dances, parties and more—all celebrating the theme that Creativity Has No Expiry Date! This year’s festival is headlined by the On Our Feet! (OOF!) staged reading of the comedy ANNIVERSARY by Carol Shields and Dave Williamson.
Now in its 4th year, Western Gold’s HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL turns the notion of “having a senior moment” on its head. A multi-disciplinary series of events and gatherings that showcase the performing arts for old folx and/or by old folx. HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL provides a gathering place for young, old, and those in between.
“I am thrilled that Have a Senior Moment Festival is back for a 4th year celebrating the Western Gold Theatre motto: Creativity has no Expiry Date!” says Western Gold Theatre’s Artistic Director, Tanja Dixon-Warren. “I wanted to turn the notion of “having a senior moment” (normally understood as a moment of forgetfulness, a foolish mistake, or a lack of understanding based on age) on its head! I wanted to reclaim the term to mean a moment showing older adults living their lives in richness, fullness, and in relationship with their communities and environments. I wanted to give senior artists “a moment” by encouraging the voices of senior artists who, with so much life experience, are daring to be bold and are creating from their hearts!”
HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL includes:
FESTIVAL HEADLINER:
ANNIVERSARY By Carol Shields and Dave Williamson | Directed by Anna Hagan
An On Our Feet! Staged (book-in-hand) Reading
Friday, September 25 – Sunday, October 4 at PAL Studio Theatre
Tickets: $35-$40
From multi-award winning author and playwright Carol Shields and Winnipeg writer Dave Williamson comes a comedy about love, marriage and everything that falls apart! ANNIVERSARY puts accepted notions about relationships and marriage to the test. A bit raunchy, a bit serious, and wonderfully hilarious!
POPCORN & A MOVIE:
Silver Screamers & The Rug
Tuesday, September 29, 2pm at PAL Studio Theatre
Pay-What-You-Can
Silver Screamers is a heartwarming and spine-tingling documentary that follows a spirited group of senior citizens who set out to make a horror film.
The Rug is the film they made! It centres on Edna, a senior aged woman who discovers that a discarded throw rug she has found will, for lack of a better word, digest anything left under it.
Based on the short story by Edo van Belkom.
READINGS OF NEW PLAYS IN DEVELOPMENT:All readings $20
Blue Heaven by Michael ArmstrongWednesday September 30, 7:30pm
Adrift by Dolores DrakeThursday October 1, 7:30pm
Breaking Parity by Valerie Sing Turner
Presented in partnership with Visceral Visions
Saturday October 3, 7:30pm
SCRIPTS & SIPS SALON:Presented in partnership with Curious Cats Theatre Collective
Tuesday, September 29 from 6pm–10pm
Pay-What-You-Choose
In this unique experience, playwrights, screenwriters, actors and audience come together to read and discuss the process of developing scripts.
SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE:
RUNNING WILDE By John Lazarus | Directed by Roy Surette
A United Players, in association with Western Gold Theatre, presentation
Friday, September 4 – Sunday, September 27 at Jericho Arts Centre
Preview: September 3 | Talkback: Thursday September 10 and Sunday September 13
Tickets: $15-$40
At 27, young Oscar Wilde, famous for being famous, embarked on a hugely successful 11-month one-man lecture tour of North America. The tour went like clockwork … except when he missed a connection in straight, stuffy little old Kingston, Ontario.
Talkbacks: Following the performances on Thursday, September 10 and Sunday, September 13.
MÉTIS KITCHEN PARTY & FEAST
in partnership with Full Circle: First Nations Performance, the Talking Stick Festival and V’ni Dansi
Sunday, October 4, 1pm– 6pm
Pay-What-You-Can
The festival closes with an uplifting celebration of Métis Culture. The party features the internationally renowned Louis Riel Métis Dancers, beloved storyteller Tom McCallum, and award-winning singer-songwriter Sandy Scofield. The whole family will have a hand-clapping, foot-stomping, full-on fiddling fun and food.
The festivalwill also offer Pay-What-You-Choose Creative Workshops at Barclay Manor including; Cedar Bracelet Making (September 23), Pen to Page: Playwriting w/John Lazarus (October 1) and Finger Weaving for Sash-Making (October 2)
September 14, 21, 28 & October 2 (showcase) PAL Studio Theatre welcomes 55+ Improv and on October 2, a National Seniors Day Celebration Dance Party.
HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT FESTIVAL, presented by Western Gold Theatre,runs September 25 to October 4, 2026 with festival hub at PAL Studio Theatre, 581 Cardero Street. Visit westerngoldtheatre.org/hasm-festival for full festival details, performance descriptions and tickets.