What an exciting time of year — warm enough to be outside and shake off the winter chills, yet cool before the summer heat and humidity kicks in!
As the summer theatre season begins, I am reminded once again that we are so very lucky to have an abundance of fantastic theatre within an easy drive of London. One of my favourite destinations is the Port Stanley Festival Theatre. It’s a short drive, and the theatre is surrounded by lovely restaurants and great shopping, which makes it a complete day-trip destination.
Artistic Director Liz Gilmore has selected a diverse offering of six Canadian plays. While she doesn’t boast about an all-Canadian line-up, Gilmore emphasizes that this is an important aspect to her programming decisions. “I want to appeal to our loyal theatre goers while also keeping current and presenting new Canadian voices and ideas on our stage. It is a balancing act, but so rewarding when it all comes together,” she says.
The 2026 summer season exemplifies Gilmore’s approach to programming; opening with the play Inner Elder by award winning Cree artist Michelle Thrush. “I knew as soon as I read the script that this was a play that just had to be part of the season,” says Gilmore. The one-woman show takes the audience on a poignant journey full of unexpected twists and turns, weaving difficult, reallife memories with laughter and grace. Thrush will stay after each performance to engage with the audience and discuss what they have just experienced.
Other highlights in the season include the world premiere of Steven Gallagher’s Deadly Memories, a thriller/comedy that will keep the audience guessing throughout. Deadly Memories is one of the plays in the Talk Back series at the Festival. After select matinees, the audience is invited to linger and have a post show chat with the artists. A great opportunity to dig deeper into the artistic process and get behind the scenes stories.
This is the first time that the Festival will have two world premieres. The second is a new production by perennial favourite, Norm Foster. His production, Ship to Shore, was one of the plays read at the Simon Joynes Playwrights’ Festival last September. Port Stanley Theatre Festival audiences will be the first to see Ship to Shore, and this new play promises lots of laughs. Is it love at first sight? Or, does someone go overboard? You’ll have to go to find out.
Ship to Shore will have two ASL interpreted shows — August 29 at the 2 p.m. matinee and the 7 p.m. evening show. Making theatre accessible to all audiences is an important part of her job, says Gilmore. “Ensuring that audiences of all abilities can access the stories on our stage means that no one is left out. ASL interpreters enable the deaf community to enjoy the first presentations of this new Canadian play.”
Recently completed upgrades to the elevator make accessing all areas of the theatre enjoyable for everyone, including those who want to attend the Musical Mondays evenings, held 7-9 p.m. from June to September. One of the best views of the Harbour in Port Stanley, combined with great local music. A small $5 cover charge gets you there, and concessions and beverages are available.
Mark your calendars for the next Simon Joynes Playwrights Festival, September 17-19. Following one day of rehearsals, new plays are presented as public readings followed by question and answer sessions with the playwrights. This is when new potential plays are tested in front of a live audience, and one of these plays generally will make it to the stage in upcoming seasons. This is an important part of what Gilmore sees as the importance of Port Stanley Festival Theatre’s contribution to Canadian theatre ecology, discovering emerging playwrights and plays and helping them hone their work for the stage.
Gilmore hopes that this will be “One Unforgettable Summer” at the theatre. “We all need to escape from the anxiety surrounding us right now. Theatre is the place everyone can go and join collectively to laugh, and forget the outside world for a few hours.” The summer season offers musicals, comedy, thrillers — it’s all there to be enjoyed. Bravo! https://psft.ca
Pond Fest is a one-day community celebration on June 13, run by the Hyde Park BIA.
For many Londoners, the Hyde Park Business Improvement Area (BIA) is known for its annual Santa Claus Parade. However, 2026 marks the tenth presentation of Pond Fest — a one-day celebration of community, Saturday, June 13, 1-10 p.m.
Pond Fest is a fantastic way to kick off London’s summer festivals. The event features businesses and community groups from the Hyde Park area, with 49+ local craft vendors, a tent for youth craft entrepreneurs, food and beverage vendors galore and lots of music all day. Ellen McGran is the Programs, Marketing and Events Coordinator spearheading this year’s event. McGran says that “Pond Fest has become a signature event for us, and it is such a community spirited event. Each year, we see people reconnecting after a long winter, enjoying the outdoors, and celebrating everything good about Hyde Park. We invite all Londoners to come and see what we have going on.”
Music is a big part of the day, and working with Mario Circelli and the Forest City London Music Awards ensures a diverse line-up of talented local musicians. This year’s headliner is Preston Pablo. In 2023, Pablo won the Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and in 2025, he was nominated for Pop Album of the Year and the fanvoted TikTok Juno Award.
Pond Fest closes the night with London’s only laser light show, a fantastic (and quiet) display of light, mesmerizing young and old. Definitely worth a visit! https://hydeparkbia.ca
This month also marks the opening of Ben Benedict’s exhibition at the Homer Watson House and Gallery in Kitchener. From May 27 to July 12, the artworks shown will feature his small, intimate landscapes to larger masterwork pieces.
“My artistry is constructed from a wide range of materials,” says Benedict, “and draws upon my experiences and memory as well as the vast history of art making.”
The Homer Watson House and Gallery is rich in history and a stunning location for Benedict’s latest work. The Gallery is named after Homer Watson, a talented and renowned Canadian landscape artist.
If you can’t make it to Kitchener, these works will also be exhibited at the King Heritage and Cultural Centre in King City, July 15-25, and in London at TAP Centre for Creativity, September 1–12. https://benbenedict.ca
ARTY-FACTS
Dolly Parton is a beloved musician, businesswoman and philanthropist. One of her favourite projects is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library that gives out books free to young children. This project expanded into Canada in 2006, and since 2023, there has been an active branch in London!
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library fosters imagination and inspires a lifelong love of reading. The London Chapter is having a fundraiser concert, Rhinestones for Reading: A Tribute to Elvis and Dolly at the Wolf Performance Hall on Friday, May 22. All proceeds support the delivery of free books to local children. https://imaginationlibrarylondon.ca
LEFT The Dolly Parton Imagination
Library fosters imagination and inspires
a lifelong love of reading
June 6-14 marks the 24th Annual FCLMA Music Week. Throughout the week, local musicians and music are celebrated at outdoor events like the Gathering on the Green (June 6), London Live After 5 concerts (June 10) and events at various bars, pubs and other venues. Some are genre specific, such as a Latin Street Party on June 12. The week is capped off by the popular Forest City London Music Awards Show on Sunday, June 14, at the London Music Hall. https://fclmaca/fclma-musicweek-2026
Storytelling as a performance is making a huge comeback. Two names that may be familiar to Londoners are Paul Hutcheson and Christel Bartelse. They will be performing a fantastic evening show of storytelling on Friday, June 19, at TAP Centre for Creativity. On Saturday, June 20, they will be holding a workshop for those interested in developing their own stories to tell. https://canuckhutch.com
