Land Acknowledgment
The Cultch acknowledges that it is on unceded territories belonging to the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Proud Partner of Indigenous Programming
The Cultch Presents
IGNITE! YOUTH ARTS Festival
May 14–18, 2025
HISTORIC THEATRE
SPECIAL EVENT
May 14–18, 2025
HISTORIC THEATRE
Produced by The Cultch Youth Panel
Content Forecast
See individual shows below for details.
Box Office Info
Phone:604-251-1363
Email: [email protected]
Mondays: 12 – 6pm
Tuesday to Saturday: 12- 4pm
Sunday: closed
Open 1 hour prior to every show
Venue Info
HISTORIC THEATRE
1895 Venables St, Vancouver, BC
Header Image by Mann Chalermwat
About
IGNITE! Festival brings a week of youth run programming to The Cultch
(Unceded Coast Salish Territories/Vancouver, BC)
The Cultch’s Youth Panel is thrilled to announce the return of the IGNITE! Youth-Driven Arts Festival. From May 14–18, 2025, The Cultch’s Historic Theatre will be home to a dynamic, multidisciplinary celebration of youth-led programming, bold new works, and innovative performances by local emerging artists.
Now in its 24th year, IGNITE! remains curated entirely by The Cultch’s Youth Panel, offering an eclectic mix of theatre, film, poetry, dance, drag, visual arts, music, and more. Featuring artists aged 13–30, as well as participants from The Cultch’s mentorship programs, IGNITE! continues to foster the next generation of creative voices.
This year’s festival showcases five electrifying nights, each centered on a unique theme, with performances spanning short plays, monologues, poetry, stand-up comedy, live music, dance, and a short film program. The festival will also feature an art exhibition (May 14–June 1, 2025) and merchandise sale, running May 14–18, 2025 in The Cultch’s lobby.
Tickets are sold on a sliding scale of $15, $18, $21 and our $40 Festival Pass, which will give you access to all five festival days.
The Cultch offers a limited number of complimentary tickets to individuals who may otherwise face barriers to attending IGNITE! performances. Please come to the Historic Will Call window 15 minute prior to the show to request a ticket.
THE LINE-UP
IGNITE! Appetite: Opening Party
MAY 14, 2025 – 8PM
HISTORIC THEATRE
Witness a cosmic collision of visual art and the written word featuring the works of Jasper Berehulke, nicolás serrano de la paz and Czarina Augustines in IGNITE!’s commissioned call and response exhibition!
Join us for the free IGNITE! Visual Arts Exhibition Opening Celebration from 6:00–8:00 pm in The Cultch’s lobby before IGNITE! Appetite. Some of our pieces will be on sale, so please feel free to enquire with any Youth Panel Member or bar staff to purchase. The exhibition runs from May 14 to June 1.
Please note: entry to the exhibition opening party is free of cost and does not include entrance to Appetite in the Historic Theatre. Please purchase a ticket to Appetite if you’d like to attend the show at 8:00 pm.
IGNITE! Appetite will feature a mouth watering showcase by the Frank Theatre’s Telling it Bent cohort, followed by the deliciously bold music of PRNCSS Shulamite.
Content Forecast: Mature themes, mention of suicide, depression, anxiety, misogyny, sexual violence, mental health related challenges, racism and some flickering light content.
IGNITE! Synapse
MAY 15, 2025 – 8PM
HISTORIC THEATRE
This night of theatre explores connection, absurdity, and fate.
Thanks for Understanding, by Lauren Alberico, is a silent clowning piece that humorously unpacks the chaos of modern dating—featuring balloons, banjos, and misunderstandings.
Mourn Me Ghosting, by Ciel Lenz, follows Vesper, an autistic teenager adjusting to life in a new home, as they encounter Morna, the ghost of a young autistic girl from the 1800s. Together, they navigate grief, acceptance, and the lingering impact of ableism.
Closing the evening, The Hands of Fate by Kayla McIntyre mixes Dungeons & Dragons fantasy with a murder mystery twist, blending improvisation with scripted storytelling.
Content Forecast: mature content, sexually suggestive content, Ableism, discussions of death of a child, child abuse, swearing, death, murder.
Sensory Advisory: Contains loud sudden noises, may not be acceptable for visually impaired individuals.
IGNITE! Pulse
MAY 16, 2025 – 8PM
HISTORIC THEATRE
Welcome to Hair Hair Everywhere! An experimental comedic play that tries to question the beauty standards, the roots of anti-body hair culture, and ways we can embrace Persian Femme bodies. The evening continues with a high-energy lineup of musical performances: Silent St. J delivers ethereal folk melodies and introspective storytelling, while Cœurtis, an R&B and soul artist from Cameroon, brings a mix of heartfelt ballads and rhythmic beats.
Content Forecast: Mature content: mentions of anxiety, depression and self-harm.
IGNITE! Resonance
MAY 17, 2025 – 8PM
HISTORIC THEATRE
A cinematic journey through five thought-provoking short films, the IGNITE! Short Film Program showcases: Desync, a surreal retelling of a mother-daughter conflict; Toxic, a whimsical take on environmental awareness; Peggy in My Dreams, a hauntingly poetic film about memory and grief; Velvet Secrets, a deeply personal story of self-discovery; and Female & Furious, an action-packed satire on identity and rebellion.
After the screenings, the night explodes into a thrilling music showcase featuring Noctis, a genre-blurring band blending City-pop, J-pop, funk, and fusion, and Kaya Ko & Thelonious Freestyle Jam!
Content Forecast: Mature content: cartoonish violence, mention of grief.
IGNITE! Puncture: The Big Finale
MAY 18, 2025 – 8PM
HISTORIC THEATRE
Paper Bag Blues (Tamlin Vetter) and Mouf (Sara van Gaalen) offer experimental and intimate performances that push the boundaries of dance and theatre followed by an electrifying set of Drag Performers including Mx Bukuru and Floozie Severe.
Finally, BlackOut Collective brings the energy of Vancouver’s ballroom scene to the stage, closing the festival with a stunning voguing showcase.
Content Forecast: Mature content includes partial nudity, biting skin and curse words.
