Vancouver Island is a cultural hub in British Columbia, featuring a large and diversified performing arts community. Theatre, dance, and music performances are staged year-round at a variety of venues. From September to the end of May, most community theatres present their regular season, featuring a scheduled line-up of plays for every taste. During the spring and summer months, theatres host special family productions and theatre festivals, while outdoor performances draw crowds to beaches and parks.
Chemainus Theatre (in Chemainus) is home to a professional regional theatre company that stages classic, musical, contemporary, and children's productions year-round; Port Theatre in Nanaimo, which stages a broad range of events year-round, including art exhibits, comedy acts, and musical performances; and Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay, mounts plays, skits, and musical performances by local and international artists on a regular basis.