The Port Theatre Society presents some of the most exciting touring artists available, every one of them showcasing artistic excellence and innovation. At the heart of the Spotlight Series is a passion to create access to diverse and authentic experiences for our audiences. Choose from a variety of unique, bold, and exciting events!
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2025-2026 Spotlight Season
The Port Theatre Society Presents
Netflix/BBC
Sunday April 12, 2026 @2:00pm
Four billion years. Millions of species. Five mass extinction events (and counting). It’s the story of Life on Our Planet. From the Emmy® Award-winning team behind Netflix’s Our Planet series, comes a new natural history speaker series event: The Making of Life On Our Planet.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
Lost Dog
Wednesday May 6, 2026 @7:30pm
A humorous and heartfelt duet about love, loss and longevity. It turns out that Romeo and Juliet didn’t die in a tragic misunderstanding… even worse, they got married.
The Port Theatre Society Presents
Ballet Victoria
Wednesday May 20, 2026 @7:30pm
Ballet Victoria’s full-length ballet, Alice in Wonderland is rich with animated projections, clever sets, and beautiful costumes. The choreography is imaginative and playful while showcasing classical bravura and pantomime. Expect all the iconic characters of the story and a few surprises.
Coffee Concerts
The Port Theatre Society Presents
Morning Concert with Coffee & Treats
Tuesday April 21, 2026 @10:30am
Rooted by a sibling bond that transcends the familial, the JUNO-nominated Cheng² Duo (pronounced Cheng Squared Duo) transfixes listeners through its impassioned expressivity, contagious joy, and a rare ability to forge instant and lasting connections with global audiences.
School Shows
Food & Drinks
Want to enhance your evening out at the theatre?
Enjoy food & drinks before (or after) the show!
Check out the Courtyard Bistro's Crafted Classics menu.
HOURS: Friday & Saturday - 3:30 pm to 11 pm | Sunday to Thursday - 3:30 pm to 10 pm.
Contact: courtyardbistro@hotelequities.com
Location: Across the street from the Port Theatre (100 Gordon St., Nanaimo)
Thank you to our official Accommodation Partner, Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo!
Past Seasons
2025-2026 Spotlight Season
Fri March 20, 2026
SPOTLIGHT: Ballet Kelowna
Three works, three worlds, one unforgettable evening. Experience the evolution of Canadian ballet.
Tue March 3, 2026
COFFEE CONCERT: Sarah Hagen
“Why hurry over beautiful things? Why not linger and enjoy them?” So pondered Clara Schumann…
Tue February 24, 2026
SPOTLIGHT: UPU
NEW ZEALAND POETRY & THEATRE … POST-SHOW CHAT IN THE THEATRE … UPU - Poems as broad and deep as the…
Fri February 6, 2026
SPOTLIGHT: Carmina Burana & T'əl
CANADIAN CONTEMPORARY BALLET … Carmina Burana … "[This] work never fails to get the heart pumping…
Fri January 30, 2026
SPOTLIGHT: International Guitar Night
THE WORLD'S BEST GUITAR MUSICIANS! The 26th Canadian Tour of International Guitar Night features:
Sat December 13, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Winter Harp
CANADIAN ENSEMBLE … Celebrate Christmas with Winter Harp — one of our most popular holiday shows.
Sat December 6, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Bear Grease The Musical
CANADIAN-INDIGENOUS MUSICAL THEATRE … Directed by Crystle Lightning … It’s not the Grease you…
Tue November 25, 2025
COFFEE CONCERT: Ty Koch
Ty Koch is a vocalist known for his versatile musical style that blends original songs with blues…
Fri November 14, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Pisuwin
CANADIAN-INDIGENOUS BALLET … From award-winning director and choreographer Igor Dobrovolskiy, and…
Tue November 11, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: The Lightfoot Band
The Lightfoot Band features the original band members who recorded many memorable hits and toured…
Wed October 29, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Take This Waltz
CANADIAN OPERA & DANCE … Take this Waltz: Celebrating the Music of Leonard Cohen is an operatic and…
Tue October 7, 2025
COFFEE CONCERT: Pocket Symphonies
Pocket Symphonies with the Bergmann Duo, Jasper Wood, violin and Sungyong Lim, cello
Sun October 5, 2025
4 PACK - Coffee Concert
Each Coffee Concert 4 pack includes one ticket to each of the following concerts: COFFEE CONCERT:
Fri October 3, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Afrique en Cirque
African-influenced circus & music … Afrique En Cirque symbolizes the strength, agility and joy of…
2024-2025 Spotlight Season
Wed May 21, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: A Simple Space
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … A Simple Space evokes real responses in audiences…
Wed May 21, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: A Simple Space
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … A Simple Space evokes real responses in audiences…
Wed May 14, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Song of the North
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … A cinematic shadow theater experience unlike…
Tue May 6, 2025
Coffee Concert: Sarah Hagen
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … An Intimate Lobby Concert with Coffee & Treats …
Thu April 10, 2025
TYA - Alphabet of Awesome Science
TYA - Alphabet of Awesome Science … Join professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge (the Word Nerd and the…
Tue April 8, 2025
Coffee Concert: Tissa Rahim
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … An Intimate Lobby Concert with Coffee & Treats …
Tue March 11, 2025
TYA - Yes Yes Yes
Tue March 4, 2025
Coffee Concert: Elizabeth Bergmann & Guests
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … Intimate Lobby Concert with Coffee & Treats…
Sun February 16, 2025
Spotlight Social at the Port Theatre
Presented by the Port Theatre Society … You're invited to become a Spotlight Superstar! Join us for…
Wed February 5, 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … Trock dancers work hard to balance their serious…
Fri January 31, 2025
24-SPOTLIGHT: International Guitar Night
A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation … Pre-show chat at 6:45 in the Harmac Room …
Sat December 14, 2024
SPOTLIGHT: Winter Harp
SPOTLIGHT: Winter Harp … Pre-Show chat at 2:45PM in the theatre … Winter Harp takes you on a…
Sun December 8, 2024
SPOTLIGHT: Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Nutcracker
SPOTLIGHT: Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Nutcracker … A Port Theatre Spotlight Series Presentation …
Fri November 22, 2024
SPOTLIGHT: Ô-Celli
SPOTLIGHT: Ô-Celli … What can sound better than a cello? Eight cellos! This instrument, the closest…
Tue November 12, 2024
Coffee Concert: Jacob Cordover
Coffee Concerts: Jacob Cordover … Intimate Lobby Concert with Coffee & Treats Australian classical…
Fri October 25, 2024
SPOTLIGHT: Ballet Victoria's Frankenstein
Inspired by the romantic classical ballet, Giselle, this ballet blends the dark elements of the…
Tue October 15, 2024
SPOTLIGHT: As You Like It, or The Land Acknowledgement
Most people know As You Like It as one of The Bard’s most accessible and whimsical plays. How…
Thu August 15, 2024
SPOTLIGHT: Red Phone
Free of charge, anyone can walk up and into the booths with a friend or family member and spend 5…
