On November 13, Chemainus Theatre Festival turns to a Christmas story set in the same house as Pride and Prejudice. The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, runs through December 23 at the theatre at 9737 Chemainus Road. The official show page describes it as a seasonal follow-up that moves downstairs: while a 2024 production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley followed the Darcy family’s festivities upstairs, this play looks at the servants’ quarters on the same holiday, interrupted by the unannounced midnight arrival of Mr. Wickham — Lydia’s husband and Darcy’s longtime adversary. The theatre calls it a heartwarming festive story about social standing and redemption.
Jessica Schacht directs. She also directed the 2024 companion piece at Chemainus. The published company includes Erin Ormond as Mrs. Reynolds, Fiona Pirie as Cassie, Dylan Floyde as George Wickham, Gabriel MacDonald as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Emma Rendell as Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy, Agnes Tong as Lydia Wickham and Quinn Churchill as Brian. Tickets are sold through the theatre, by phone at 250-246-9820 or 1-800-565-7738, or online at chemainustheatrefestival.ca. The festival’s official 2026 season calendar lists a range of price tiers, including economy seats, and a relaxed, pay-what-you-can performance; schedules can change, so use the box office or the show page for the performance you want.
A night or a matinee at Chemainus is often a meal as well as a play. The Playbill Dining Room, on the official show page, offers lunch, brunch, classic dinner and prime dinner buffets, with discounts for children and students and when a meal is booked with a theatre ticket. For this production the theatre lists seasonal dishes such as traditional roasted turkey with gravy, a crispy prosciutto, pear and burrata salad, and sticky toffee pudding. Some performances, marked on the calendar, have the dining room closed; check when you book.
The festival is also in our Cowichan Valley directory. If you are coming from Duncan, Ladysmith or the lake, leave a little extra time: Chemainus Road and the theatre’s own lot are straightforward, but evening shows fill up around curtain.
Good to know
- The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley runs November 13 to December 23 at 9737 Chemainus Road.
- Tickets and dining: chemainustheatrefestival.ca, 250-246-9820 or 1-800-565-7738.
- Show page: chemainustheatrefestival.ca/thewickhams.
Image: Screenshot of the Chemainus Theatre Festival page for The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley.
Photo: Chemainus Theatre Festival, Screenshot of official source page, via source.
