What happens when a small town silences its sorrow with rules? Chemainus Theatre’s stage version of Footloose hits all the high notes! From toe-tapping nostalgia to unexpectedly profound moments of healing. Come for the music, stay for the meaning… and whatever you do, don’t skip dinner before the show!

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This Isn’t Just a Dance Story — It’s a Deep Dive into Grief, Grace & Getting Unstuck 🎭

What happens when a small town silences its sorrow with rules? Chemainus Theatre’s stage version of Footloose hits all the high notes! From toe-tapping nostalgia to unexpectedly profound moments of healing. Come for the music, stay for the meaning… and whatever you do, don’t skip dinner at the theatre’s Playbill Restaurant before the show.

Show after show, The Chemainus Theatre continually delivers quality, professional entertainment. But even beyond the quality entertainment their shows often carry a deeper message – if you’re willing to look This summer show “Footloose” checks all the boxes.

If you lived through the ’80s, chances are you watched Footloose… maybe more than once. The stage version at The Chemainus Theatre captures all the energy and emotion of the original film. It’s the story of Ren, a big-city teen thrown into a small town bound by tradition and silence. From the moment he arrives, he’s up against impossible odds: fit in, follow the rules, and don’t ask questions.

But as the story unfolds, he begins to peel back layers of hidden pain. Behind the town’s rigid rules – no dancing, no drinking, no questions – lies deep grief.

Years ago, several young people in the town died. In response, the adults built protective walls through strict laws. No dancing. No rock music. No drinking. No questions. But those rules didn’t protect… they divided. Parents grew distant from their children. Most notably, Reverend Shaw and his daughter Ariel. His hardened heart only pushed her further away. She felt smothered. He felt misunderstood. Neither knew how to talk about their pain.

Then Ren arrives. As an outsider, he doesn’t know the town’s silent rule: don’t talk about the past. So when he asks for a school dance, he’s met with fierce resistance.

But Ren doesn’t give up. He listens. He sees the pain behind the rules. And slowly, he connects with Reverend Shaw—not through rebellion, but through shared sorrow. That grief becomes a bridge. Walls fall. Forgiveness and joy break through.

Footloose at The Chemainus Theatre is so much more than just a fun show. If we challenge ourselves to look deeper, we will find lessons on love and forgiveness and the importance of sharing our grief and pain with one another so we can move through it.

The show delivers laughter, powerful emotion, and plenty of toe-tapping music from the past. Once again, Chemainus Theatre brings a meaningful story to life and does it with excellence.

Check if there are any seats left before it sells out for the Summer.

When you book your tickets, be sure to add a meal before the show in the Playbill Dining Room.

It’s the perfect setting to begin your night out.

Our Friday night meal was absolutely exceptional! Ordering Table d^hote meant we ordered our incredible entrees before going to the salad bar. My sous-vide filet minion was arguably the best I’ve ever had while my husband raved about his stuffed mediterranean roasted chicken.

Neither of us was very willing to share with the other!

But can we just talk about soup for a moment?

Good soup is, in my opinion, the ultimate comfort food. When the texture and seasonings are just right, soup wraps a person up in a warm hug with every bite. The chef at The Playbill Dining Room understands this so well, that even in the heat of summer, only a fool passes on the soup when it is offered. Friday night’s carrot ginger soup was no exception.

This has become my absolute favourite! I only wish I could get the recipe. But even without it, I can still purchase this one in the Theatre’s gift shop downstairs. Phew!

Tickets are selling fast for this summer performance. And it’s easy to see why. So choose your date and grab your tickets. You won’t be disappointed.