Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for May 12 to 18

This week: celebrate young artists, lip sync for your life + more

1. Wet – Until Sunday, May 27

Winner of the Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition, Wet is an immersive play that takes place inches away from an audience of just 28 in the basement of Russian Hall. Set during the height of Canada’s involvement in the Afghanistan War, this raw work examines love, abandonment and the emotional cost of combat. Directed by Chelsea Haberlin, the story follows a Canadian soldier who returns home to her husband and young daughter and has to battle mental illness in the confines of her basement suite.
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Avenue, Vancouver; 8 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; Tickets $29 regular and $25 for students/seniors (Contains violence and nudity.)

2. Mamma Mia – Until Saturday, August 11

Mamma Mia, here we go again… with the Abba-solutely awesome musical that’ll have you singing along to the Swedish group’s top hits! Here all summer long, the story tells the tale of a young girl searching for her biological father, to a soundtrack of Abba’s greatest hits.
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver; Tickets from $29

3. Richmond Night Market – Until Monday, October 8

Back for summer 2018, the Richmond Night Market has a Summer Seafood Festival theme this year, serving up a smorgasbord, with crab and lobster found at various vendors.
8351 River Road, Richmond; Fridays, Saturday, Sundays and holiday Mondays; Tickets $4.25 at door, with “zoom passes” available for $25

4. Shipyards Night Market – Friday, May 11

Enjoy dinner with a difference at the Shipyards Night Market where more than 40 food trucks will be lined up ready to serve a range of tasty treats to go with the craft beer, cider and wine served in the licensed beer garden. Listen to live music while browsing locally made products at the artisan market.
Shipbuilders’ Square, North Vancouver; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through the summer; Free admission

5. Spot Prawn Festival – Saturday, May 12

New for 2018, the spot prawn boil has been replaced with communal chowder, featuring fresh-off-the-boat B.C. spot prawns served with bread from Terra Breads. Or choose a six-course tasting brunch, featuring dishes from Vancouver’s top chefs at restaurants such as Vij’s, Wildebeest, Hawksworth and Homer St. Cafe and Bar. Enjoy wine, beer and coffee samples, and purchase fresh spot prawns to take home to enjoy.
False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf, Granville Island; 11 a.m to 4 p.m.; Free admission to docks, with tickets at $10 for chowder and $60 for brunch

6. Vancouver Arts Lip Sync Battle IV – Saturday, May 12

Put those lip syncing skills to good use and try out this charitable competition to be crowned Vancouver’s best lip syncer. All proceeds go to Tara Cheyenne Performance, a Vancouver-based dance organization celebrating common human experience.
Studio 700, 700 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; 7 p.m.; Tickets $15

7. Art Smash – Saturday, May 12

Since May 1st, Granville Island has been working with 10 artists and the Vancouver Mural Festival to transform the Island’s newest public space, the Chain and Forge, into a vibrant outdoor art gallery. Head there on Saturday for a street-style party with live mural painting, music from local DJs, dance performances, food trucks and drinks from local craft breweries.
1404 Anderson Street, Granville Island, Vancouver; 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Free admission

8. Science Slam – Thursday, May 17

Science Slam comes to Science World After Dark for an evening of after-hours fun that includes slam winners from the 2017/2018 season competing for the title of Canadian Science Slam Champion. Participants can choose from a talk, a poem, a song, a dance or something else as long as it is a five-minute slam (No slideshows allowed!)
Science World at Telus World of Science, Vancouver; 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with Omnimax film at 6 p.m.; Tickets $29

9. Expressions Theatre Festival – Thursday May 17

Part of the wider Arts Umbrella Expressions Festival, celebrating the young artists of Vancouver, this theatre showcase highlights five fantastic productions from emerging talent within Arts Umbrella’s Intensive, Pre-Professional, and Theatre Conservatory Programs. The 2018 lineup includes a tale of self-image in Outside In, a contemporary fairytale in Missing, Euripides’ classic Greek tragedy The Phoenician Women and favourites such as Oklahoma! and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
Various dates and times, continuing until May 26; Details and tickets online

10. Petsmart Adoption Weekend – Friday, May 18 to Saturday, May 20

Looking for a new friend? PetSmart stores across the city (and Canada) will be running a program of events with animal rescue charities to encourage pet adoption this weekend. Head to your nearest store to meet bunnies, dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and guinea pigs in need of a loving home.
Details online