Skip to content

Gallery 7 presents Christmas Presence

Partners with Pacific Theatre for annual show
31202abbotsfordChristmasPresence
Carolyn Arends headlines Christmas Presence

Gallery 7 Theatre is once again partnering with Vancouver’s Pacific Theatre to bring Christmas Presence, a collection of songs and stories for the holiday season, to Abbotsford on Saturday, Dec. 20.

The production is a gathering of musicians and actors who share songs and stories.

Gallery 7 artistic director Ken Hildebrandt said the vibe at Christmas Presence is that of a family gathering that has burst into song.

Pacific Theatre artistic director Ron Reed likes to call it “the un-slickest Christmas show in town.”

This year’s show is headlined by singer-songwriter Carolyn Arends, who celebrated the release of her new Christmas album, “The Story of Stories,” at House of James in Abbotsford.

Arends has been a part of Christmas Presence for years, crediting the show’s casual nature with its success.

Playing alongside Carolyn Arends will be singer-songwriter Michael Hart, the Mission-based Cathy Hardy, and former Abbotsford resident and jazz musician Nelson Boschman.

“The show is an eclectic mix of songs, stories and poetry that celebrate Christmas and get us to ponder the deeper significance of the season,” Hildebrandt said.

“People have really found it to be a touching and uplifting experience, a nice change from all the hustle, bustle and stress that comes with this special time of year.”

The show begins at 8 p.m. at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 32315 South Fraser Way.

Tickets are available at House of James (2743 Emerson St.) or by calling 604-852-3701. They can also be purchased online at www.pacifictheatre.org. For more details, visit gallery7theatre.com.