For its 52nd season, Calgary’s Lunchbox Theatre is moving five kilometres southwest.
After nearly two decades at the base of the Calgary Tower, including five years in the Vertigo Theatre Studio, North America’s longest-running lunchtime theatre will now reside in an arts and culture hub called cSPACE Marda Loop.
“We’re so excited to move to cSPACE. To be surrounded by a community of artists in a neighbourhood [Marda Loop] that has been so welcoming and enthusiastic about the theatre we make is a dream come true,” wrote Lunchbox artistic director Bronwyn Steinberg in a press release. “We can’t wait for Marda Loop to experience our 52nd season, right in their backyard.”
Lunchbox’s 2026-27 season unfolds in cSPACE’s studio theatre, which can seat 96. The arts hub is based in a repurposed early-20th-century school, with the theatre’s contemporary steel-and-glass architecture located outside the historic frame.
The productions that make up Lunchbox’s 2026-27 lineup are listed below.
Ribstone
Written and performed by Christopher Hunt
October 7 to 17, 2026
Returning after a sold-out run at last year’s High Performance Rodeo, music and history come together in this solo show about the ranching roots of Hunt’s family. With folksiness and humour, Christopher retells the story of Alberta through modern eyes.
A Christmas Carol Radio Play Live
Adapted and directed by Bronwyn Steinberg
December 1 to 24, 2026
It’s the golden age of radio, and a local station is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a live broadcast. In this brand-new adaptation, three actors embody the story’s characters while creating foley sound effects live on stage.
Inner Elder
Written and performed by Michelle Thrush
January 20 to 30, 2027
Winner of outstanding production at the Betty Mitchell Awards for its world premiere at Lunchbox in 2018, this solo show traces Thrush’s life — from a childhood spent searching for Indigenous representation while flipping through television channels, to her early success as an actor in an industry that leaned on stereotypes.
Oh Mother!
Written and performed by Rebbekah Ogden
March 2 to 6, 2027
In this solo show from last year’s Calgary Fringe, Ogden paints an audience member’s portrait while performing the mostly true coming-of-age story of Bekah, an aspiring child artist with 11 siblings.
Marv & Ev
Written by Jason Long
October 7 to 17, 2026
Marv and Ev have shared half a life together, but even in their 70s, there are still things that remain unsaid between them. Part buddy comedy and part Twilight Zone episode, Marv & Ev is a celebration of life and death that was workshopped at the 2025 edition of Lunchbox’s Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work.
For more information about the 2026-27 season, visit Lunchbox Theatre’s website.
Lunchbox Theatre is an Intermission partner. Learn more about Intermission’s partnership model here.
WRITTEN BY
Liam Donovan
Liam is Intermission’s senior editor. He lives in Toronto. His Substack newsletter is available at loamdonovan.substack.com.
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