Things I Hide From Dad, by Travis Abels brings the storyteller back to Vancouver for a special limited-run presentation between Vancouver Fringe and Pacific Theatre from March 5 to March 8.
Bringing his real-life story about coming of age in his father’s doomsday cult, Travis Abels combines personal storytelling with one-of-a-kind audio design, creating an unforgettable, multisensory experience.
A five-time winner of “The Moth” storytelling events, Travis Abels was first introduced to Vancouver at the 2023 Vancouver Fringe Festival. Initially under the name “The Chair on the Door,” the show takes audiences through Travis’ real-life coming of age experience, trying to obey his dad, a preacher in a fundamentalist sect. Abel won Vancouver Fringe patron’s hearts through his ability to take an audience on his personal journey using storytelling and clever sound design. The show quickly became a sell-out hit. Since his 2023 Vancouver Fringe Festival debut, he has travelled across Canada and the USA, including Orlando, where the show is described as a ‘masterclass in capturing an audience’s attention with a lovely sweetness among its frankness, Abels tells his story with charm and verve.’ Having further developed the show over the years touring, he brings it back to Vancouver as a Guest Production as part of the Pacific Theatre 2024-2025 season.
“Pacific Theatre is so happy to welcome our good pals at the Fringe into our home theatre,” says Kaitlin Williams, Artistic Director of Pacific Theatre. “I loved Things I Hide From Dad when I first saw it. I was drawn to the way Travis takes us through his life’s journey. It is the ultimate fringe show, with one guy and a killer sound design – no props or set. Just his life story, well told.”
“We are thrilled to be welcoming Travis Abel back to Vancouver,” says Duncan Watts-Grant, Executive Director of the Vancouver Fringe. “His exhilarating performance of storytelling and audio design is totally captivating. His performance is as poignant as it is funny in a coming-of-age story.”
Vancouver Fringe brings Travis Abels’ Things I Hide From Dad to Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Avenue, from Wednesday, March 5, to Saturday, March 8, 2025. Visit pacifictheatre.org for showtimes and tickets.