Local Entertainment

Actor Austin Eckert on set during a rehearsal of Taking Shakespeare, which streams online through June 13, courtesy of the Belfry Theatre. (Photo by Mark Halliday Creative Team)

Take your Shakespeare in a virtual stream through Victoria’s Belfry Theatre

Theatre offers John Murrell play online, future summer shows may remain virtual

Dancers Jean and Geoffrey Penola perform the traditional pangalay dance at this year’s virtual Mabuhay Filipino Arts and Culture Festival. (Courtesy of the VFCA)

Victoria association holding virtual festival for Filipino Heritage Month

Events include six days of performances and take-out food

Chilliwack’s Matt Johnson was strapped into a straight jacket and hung by his ankles upside down, and had less than two minutes to free himself before two spinning saw blades fell. (America’s Got Talent video)

VIDEO: Chilliwack escape artist Matt Johnson dazzles judges on America’s Got Talent

Johnson brought a packed auditorium to its feet with a death-defying stunt

Lake Forgie, left, and Tyson Robinson play Mrs. and Mr. Jabinksy the parents of the groom in Scenes from a Wedding, in which Kinsey D’Archangelo is the bride, Lizzie Wellington. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)

Lights, camera, COVID compliance

How Sooke high school students staged a musical during a pandemic

Lake Forgie, left, and Tyson Robinson play Mrs. and Mr. Jabinksy the parents of the groom in Scenes from a Wedding, in which Kinsey D’Archangelo is the bride, Lizzie Wellington. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)
The Victoria Symphony Orchestra, shown here in a past concert at the University of Victoria, and Pacific Opera Victoria are teaming up for performances June 10 and 11. (Black Press Media file photo)

Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Symphony collaborate for free online performances

Britten’s Phaedra and Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings streaming June 10 and 11

The Victoria Symphony Orchestra, shown here in a past concert at the University of Victoria, and Pacific Opera Victoria are teaming up for performances June 10 and 11. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Fearless Sisters Rising mural, located at the University of Victoria’s McPherson Library, was imagined and created by Indigenous artists Brianna Bear and Nicole Neidhardt and the Sisters Rising network. (Courtesy University of Victoria)

Greater Victoria residents invited to blessing of Indigenous mural celebrating solidarity

University of Victoria library home to mural, ceremony streaming Friday, June 4

The Fearless Sisters Rising mural, located at the University of Victoria’s McPherson Library, was imagined and created by Indigenous artists Brianna Bear and Nicole Neidhardt and the Sisters Rising network. (Courtesy University of Victoria)
CCPA performs Urinetown June 3 at 7:30 p.m., June 4 at 6 p.m. and June 5 at 12:30 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available online at ccpacanada.com, by phone at 250-595-9970 or email boxoffice@ccpacanada.com.(Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Greater Victoria performance school livestreams Urinetown for season finale

Canadian College of Performing Arts livestreamed shows presented through June 6

CCPA performs Urinetown June 3 at 7:30 p.m., June 4 at 6 p.m. and June 5 at 12:30 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available online at ccpacanada.com, by phone at 250-595-9970 or email boxoffice@ccpacanada.com.(Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The Netflix series Maid shoots in Sidney in November 2020. The show stars Margaret Qualley. (Bob Orchard photo)

Healthy lineup of filming set for Greater Victoria in 2021

Netflix series Maid leads the charge into the summer

The Netflix series Maid shoots in Sidney in November 2020. The show stars Margaret Qualley. (Bob Orchard photo)
Mark Loria in the 621 Fort St. Gallery that bears his name starting June 1. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria Indigenous art gallery transforms in name only

New logo created in partnership with Coast Salish artist lessLIE

Mark Loria in the 621 Fort St. Gallery that bears his name starting June 1. (Black Press Media file photo)
The band hit the Woodshop Recording Studio in October 2020 and are now fresh off the release of the first single from this session, The Wave. (New Groovement/YouTube)

University of Victoria auditorium hosts first digital performance after year of rehearsals, recording

New Groovement June concert brings back original lead singer

The band hit the Woodshop Recording Studio in October 2020 and are now fresh off the release of the first single from this session, The Wave. (New Groovement/YouTube)
Should Have Seen It Coming, a hyper-realistic painting by Sean Yelland, will be displayed at the Madrona Gallery this month in his new solo exhibit, Chasing Rainbows.

Blooms, bright colours coming to Greater Victoria galleries this month

At The Galleries: check out what’s on display in June

Should Have Seen It Coming, a hyper-realistic painting by Sean Yelland, will be displayed at the Madrona Gallery this month in his new solo exhibit, Chasing Rainbows.
A group of poets has collaborated on a new work: All the Elements – Seven Poets from Sooke. (Pixabay.com)

Sooke Writer’s Collective launches book of poetry

All the Elements chapbook a positive outcome of pandemic

A group of poets has collaborated on a new work: All the Elements – Seven Poets from Sooke. (Pixabay.com)
The Virtual Secret Garden Tour launches on Sunday (June 13). The three-part video series features gardens from Sooke to East Sooke. (Pixabay.com)

What’s On This Weekend in Sooke

Looking for something to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered.

The Virtual Secret Garden Tour launches on Sunday (June 13). The three-part video series features gardens from Sooke to East Sooke. (Pixabay.com)
Victoria artist Mark Heine with a painting from his Sirens series. Two pieces from the series will go to the moon later this year. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)

Victoria artist’s paintings bound for galactic gallery on the moon

Two of Mark Heine’s paintings will make the lunar leap aboard the Peregrine Lander in December

Victoria artist Mark Heine with a painting from his Sirens series. Two pieces from the series will go to the moon later this year. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)
Combination photo shows the different stages of the blood moon and supermoon during a total lunar eclipse in 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

How to best view the ‘super blood flower moon’ from Greater Victoria

Next supermoon total lunar eclipse not expected until 2033

Combination photo shows the different stages of the blood moon and supermoon during a total lunar eclipse in 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Arts Council of Ladysmith and District is working with several Vancouver Island art councils on the Digitial Innovation Group to improve digital skills for Island artists. (Submitted photo)

Arts group promotes digital literacy for Island artists

The goal is to leverage digital skills to promote Vancouver Island as an ‘arts powerhouse’

The Arts Council of Ladysmith and District is working with several Vancouver Island art councils on the Digitial Innovation Group to improve digital skills for Island artists. (Submitted photo)
Clayton Anderson's painting The Midden and a collection of other close-cropped nature scenes will be on display at the Madrona Gallery from May 8-22.

Artists bring dynamic nature scenes, bright colours to Greater Victoria galleries this month

At The Galleries: check out what’s on display in May

  • May 8, 2021
Clayton Anderson's painting The Midden and a collection of other close-cropped nature scenes will be on display at the Madrona Gallery from May 8-22.
Michael Demers, performing here as a member of The Lonely, died May 1 after a year-long battle with leukemia. (Photo by Benji Duke)

Victoria music community mourning Michael Demers

Veteran singer-songwriter, co-founder of The Lonely dies at 63 due to leukemia

Michael Demers, performing here as a member of The Lonely, died May 1 after a year-long battle with leukemia. (Photo by Benji Duke)
Colwood-based writer Esi Edugyan will speak about the deep research she did before writing <em>Washington Black</em>, her third novel. (Black Press Media file photo)

Colwood author Esi Edugyan giving talk May 6 about her research and writing process

Event is part of Royal Road’s Changemaker series celebrating its 25th anniversary

Colwood-based writer Esi Edugyan will speak about the deep research she did before writing <em>Washington Black</em>, her third novel. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus is going virtual for the fourth time with the release of two new video features. (Contributed-Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus

Philharmonic releases fourth ‘virtual concert’ video

The Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus is going virtual for the fourth…

The Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus is going virtual for the fourth time with the release of two new video features. (Contributed-Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus