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!

A Fun Take on a Festive Favourite

(L-R) Darren Thyne, Darlene Carr, Jennifer Cody, Cielo Richardson, and Kate Humphreys rehearse a musical number accompanied by pianist Adriana Proton

Rivercity Plays is delighted to return to the stage this November with a hilarious take on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. Written by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jnr., The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol is one of a series of delightful plays about the fictional society and their attempts to mount a production of a famous work.

The ladies, and long suffering stage manager, Gordon, mount a full assault on the much loved Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Miscues, costume and prop failures abound but it won't stop the stalwart thespians from bringing the story to their adoring followers.

The Rivercity Players production will be directed by Dee and Dick Poulton. The directors first saw the play performed in Vancouver several years ago, and as soon as Dick and Dee saw the Rivercity Stage they knew it was the perfect venue to present it in. Dee was quick to respond when Rivercity Players’ call for directors for the 2022-2023 season went out.

“This play is unique in it's wacky approach to theatre production,” says Dee. “This series of plays are not produced often because of the intricate dance of light, sound and multi-character acting required. There are not many plays that break the fourth wall throughout it's acts and the fact that the audience isn't familiar with this version of A Christmas Carol is really exciting for us.”

The cast features Jennifer Cody, Darlene Carr, Darren Thyne, Cielo Richardson and Kate Humphreys.

Opening night is Thursday November 24th at the Rivercity Stage at 7:30pm. The play runs November 24th to 26th at 7:30pm, with matinees Saturday November 26th and Sunday November 27th at 2pm. It then continues December 1st to 3rd with three more evening performances at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $25 and available now at www.rivercitytickets.ca