They say April showers bring May flowers. Whether the weather is blissful or blustery, one thing’s for sure: the local arts scene is already blooming.

Here are our Vancouver arts picks for April 2024.

Saint Joan of the Stockyards: To April 13 @ Frederic Wood Theatre 

A brand-new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s corporate critique.  

Dying to Get Married: To April 14@ Newlands Golf and Country Club

A comedy murder-mystery raising money for suicide prevention.

The Trip to Bountiful: To April 14 @ Jericho Arts Centre 

A classic Americana drama brought to the stage.

Hello April: To April 28 @ Gallery George

Works from Photo Club Vancouver, Juan Contreras, and group exhibition New Beginnings are on display.

Trail Running Film Festival: April 4 @ Rio Theatre

Who’d voluntarily choose to run up and down a mountain? Watch and find out!

Ed Yong: What Reporting on Long Covid Taught Me: April 4 @ Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue

The former Atlantic journalist on science and health communication. Remote option available.

Parifam: April 4 to 14 @ Historic Theatre

The world premiere of a gripping drama about two Persian women grappling with their past. 

OSMOSi: 422 Unprocessable Entity: April 4 to 5 @ Orpheum Annex 

Nancy Lee embodies a delivery app subroutine come to life in this multi-disciplinary dance work. 

How to Appreciate Graffiti: The Exhibition: April 5 to 12 @ Fingerprint Gallery

A culmination and celebration of street art. Part of Emily Carr’s first-ever graffiti class. 

Where Have All The Buffalo Gone?: April 6 @ Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre

Tai Amy Grauman’s play about historic Métis events helps bring history to life for kids.

Richmond Art Walk: April 6 to 7 @ Lipont Gallery 

Engage with galleries, artists, and curators on a free walk.

Skoden Indigenous Film Festival: April 6 to 7 @ Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema

The two-day student-led festival showcases Indigenous filmmakers from across Turtle Island.

Converse/Converge: April 6 to 7, 13 to 14 @ The Edge Fine Art Gallery 

Eight artists with contrasting practices put their works in dialogue.

La Bohème: April 6 to 13 @ Shadbolt Centre for the Arts 

The Puccini opera weaves a tangled web.

Works: April 6 to 27 @ Outsiders and Others 

A solo fine-line exhibition from self-taught artist Jonathan Peterrsen.

Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth: April 7 to 16 @ Roundhouse Community Centre 

Movies for the young and the young at heart.

Tiná7 Cht Ti Temíxw book release: April 9 @ Performance Works

Celebrating the launch of Tiná7 Cht Ti Temíxw: We Come From This Land: A Walk Through the History of the Squamish People. 

Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me, But Banjos Saved My Life: April 10 to 13 @ Pacific Theatre

It’s nice that banjos have done something good, to balance out inflicting Mumford & Sons on us.

Art Vancouver: April 11 to 14 @ Vancouver Convention Centre 

Western Canada’s biggest art fair asks if you’ve got the space and scratch for original works.

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery: April 11 to 20 @ Gateway Theatre

Five actors play 40 characters in a madcap mystery adventure with everyone’s favourite detective.

Transformation & Adaptation: April 11 to May 5 @ Ferry Building Gallery 

Carol Demers and Anthea Cameron display nature-tinged works.

Sexy Laundry: April 11 to May 12 @ Granville Island Stage 

The screwball smutty favourite returns for an Arts Club run.

Over the Ridge: April 13 @ Massey Theatre

Dance, theatre, and song blend to weave a tapestry of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. World premiere. 

The Big Roar: April 13 @ St. Andrew’s–Wesley United Church

Chor Leoni presides over its annual choral festival. 

Vancity Comedy Extravaganza: April 13 @ Vogue Theatre

Dino Archie corrals half a dozen of the city’s funniest comedians for a one-night festival. 

This Is How We Got Here: April 13 to 28 @ Firehall Arts Centre 

A family comes to grips with grief in this heartbreaking, heartwarming play.

Elephant Warriors: April 16 @ Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre

Female conservation rangers in Kenya fight poachers and misogyny in this new documentary. 

Prohibition Pleasures: April 16 @ Mum’s the Word 

A speakeasy-inspired cabaret from four local burlesque acts. 

David Rimmer retrospective: April 17 @ The Cinematheque

A National Canadian Film Day program honouring the late local filmmaker.

Maurice: April 17 to 20 @ Studio 16

French-language theatre exploring aphasia and communication. 

Sasha Velour: The Big Reveal: Why Drag Matters: April 18 @ Chan Centre for the Performing Arts 

The final Phil Lind Initiative Speaker Series highlights a cerebral queen. Art! 

The Year of Magical Thinking: April 18 to 19 @ Shadbolt Centre for the Arts 

Adapted from Joan Didion’s memoir, this one-woman production gets deep on grief.

You Used to Call Me Marie…: April 18 to 28 @ York Theatre

Eight intertwined stories of love ground this intergenerational drama. World premiere.

The Overview: April 18 to May 12 @ Kotsuik Gallery 

Whitney Lewis-Smith creates complex photographic tableaux. 

Family Room: April 19 to 20 @ Scotiabank Dance Centre 

Consider yourself part of the furniture. No, really. Consider it. 

SOUNDspace: April 19 and 20 @ Vancouver Playhouse 

The Canadian premiere of Dorrance Dance’s innovative exploration of sound and movement. 

Axiom Brass Quintet: April 22 @ Vogue Theatre 

The Chicago five-piece plays an Earth Day concert in support of Indigenous scholarships for UBC Earth Sciences.

Dance//Novella: April 25 @ Scotiabank Dance Centre 

Former Ballet BC artists Racheal Prince and Brandon Lee Alley show selections from their new company. 

Sadhana: An Evening of Bharatanatyam: April 25 @ Vancouver Playhouse

Vancouver’s Sujit Vaidya leads a night of enchanting traditional dance. 

No One Special: April 26 @ Waterfront Theatre

Voted Vancouver’s best comedian in 2023, Julie Kim tells rib-tickling childhood anecdotes.

INSANIA!: April 26 @ Rickshaw Theatre

Wrestling is an art, right? Costumes! Storylines! Choreography! Sounds like art to me!

Carmen: April 27 to May 5 @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre 

Toreador! Vancouver Opera wraps its season with the Bizet spectacular.