Laughter with Heart: The Kitchen Witches Cooks Up Comedy and Community Support for Opening Night

Get ready for rivalry, recipes, and nonstop laughs as Rivercity Players opens its fall production of The Kitchen Witches on Wednesday October 14th. Opening night on offers audiences double the impact: enjoying a fantastic night of live local comedy while directly supporting essential, grassroots community care across Campbell River.

​Every dollar raised from ticket sales for the October 14 opening night performance will be donated directly to

Caremongering Campbell River (CMCR). Founded in March 2020 by former social worker Tara Jordan, CMCR began with a single delivery of essential supplies to a mother in need. Today, the volunteer-led initiative has expanded into a network of over 6,800 members—representing more than 15% of the local population—and over 50 dedicated volunteers helping neighbors with groceries, hot meals, emergency aid, and daily household support.

​“Almost everyone either has time and resources to share or needs a little help at some point in our lives, so it has been beyond wonderful to be able to connect these dots on a bigger scale,” says Tara Jordan, founder of Caremongering Campbell River.

​By combining forces with Rivercity Players, opening night patrons can experience high-energy, hilarious community theatre while helping to ensure no neighbour must face difficult times alone.

​Event & Ticket Details:

• ​What: The Kitchen Witches Opening Night

• ​When: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 7:30 PM

• ​Where: Rivercity Stage, 1080 Hemlock Street, Campbell River

• ​Tickets: Available for purchase online at rivercitytickets.ca

  
  

​Join us for an evening of local entertainment where every seat filled helps care for a neighbour.

Rivercity Players is bringing big laughs and high-stakes culinary drama to the community with their fall production of Caroline Smith’s award-winning comedy, The Kitchen Witches.

Winner of the Samuel French Best Canadian Play award, this laugh-out-loud production follows Isobel Lomax, played by Christina Peterson and Dolly Biddle, played by Julie Rigby, as two cable-access cooking show hosts who have loathed each other for decades. When a public, insult-hurling brawl on set turns them into an overnight viral sensation, a producer jumps at the chance to give them their own joint show: The Kitchen Witches. The problem? They still can’t stand each other. As the flour flies, the insults get hotter, and the ratings soar, the duo proves that revenge is a dish best served live on air.

Joining the fray is Joel Loeve as Dolly’s long-suffering producer son, Stephen, along with an energetic camera gal played by Cielo Richardson ready to turn the theater into a live television studio.

Directed by Melony Larre, the production brings high-stakes rivalries, fast-paced slapstick, and plenty of heart to the local stage.

The Kitchen Witches will run on the Rivercity Stage October 14,15,16,17,21, 22, 23, 24 at 7:30 PM and October 18 and 24 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $27 available online now at www.rivercitytickets.ca 

Treat yourself to a night of big laughs and book your ticket today!

New Audition Workshop

with Robb Mowbray

Saturday, September 26th

10am - 2pm

Preparing for the Audition. Preparing for the Performance.

WHAT IS THE DIRECTOR LOOKING FOR?

What can you do to win that audition for that role that you really want? We will explore a list of tactics to greatly improve your chances, both as a competitor in an audition process and an actor in the rehearsal process. Because a lot of what you display in the audition shows what the director can expect from you if she/he gives you the part.

You must earn it! So, let’s explore how…

Please bring:

• your own reusable water bottle

• snacks and/or lunch

• one monologue of your own choice (I will bring another one for you)

• a way to take notes!

Come prepared to have fun!

Since space is limited for this workshop, attendance will be reserved for current members. To renew or begin your membership see our website's Membership page.

Robb Mowbray has been involved in theatre since childhood. He has many acting credits, mostly with Nanaimo Theatre Group and directing credits with NTG, Courtenay Little Theatre, ECHO Players and RCP, where he directed Shadows From A Low Stone Walk in November 2024. He is a former Executive Director of Theatre BC and credits the organization with providing a lifetime of learning theatre skills.