Presentation House Theatre launches a new flagship holiday show with a fast-paced, funny and irreverent family adaptation by Vancouver playwright David Johnston, running December 11, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
The North Shore has a new holiday tradition in the making. This winter, Presentation House Theatre (PHT) presents a homegrown production of The Sword in the Stone in North Vancouver, a fresh take on T. H. White’s beloved classic that invites the whole family to laugh, cheer and even cast a spell or two.
Adapted by Vancouver playwright David Johnston, the show brings just three performers together to conjure an entire world of eccentric wizards, ridiculous knights and enchanting creatures. At its heart is Wart, an endearing young kitchen boy and the future King Arthur, who receives a magical (if somewhat mysterious) education from the wizard Merlin, and along the way discovers what it truly takes to lead.
A tradition built close to home
For Artistic Managing Director Keltie Forsyth, who also directs the production, The Sword in the Stone is about more than a single season. It is a chance to build a lasting holiday tradition on the North Shore and to celebrate art that is truly local.
“I really believe this production has a special kind of magic to it,” Forsyth says. “For a time of year when people are looking for an opportunity to come together, laugh, and share in the holiday joy, The Sword in the Stone creates that charm.”
The project is also a personal one. Forsyth commissioned the adaptation because the story has stayed with her since childhood.
“I remember the hilarity of the knights’ duel, the tenderness of the Questing Beast and the magic of the transformations,” she recalls. “I always wanted to know what it would feel like to swim as a fish or fly as a bird.”
The audience joins the adventure
This is not a show to watch quietly from your seat. With vibrant puppetry, plenty of irreverent humour and roaring audience participation, young and old alike help drive the story, cheering on a gloriously ridiculous knights’ duel and casting incantations that change the course of events.
Beneath all the mischief lies an earnest message about courage, kindness and the trials and tribulations of growing up, which makes it a story warm enough to thaw even the chilliest December evening.
Part of PHT’s Family Series of theatre for young audiences, The Sword in the Stone is designed for all ages, making it an easy pick for families, grandparents and anyone looking for a little holiday magic close to home.
If you go
- What: The Sword in the Stone, a Presentation House Theatre production
- Based on: the book by T. H. White, adapted by David Johnston
- Directed by: Keltie Forsyth
- When: December 11, 2026 to January 3, 2027 (see showtimes)
- Where: Presentation House Theatre, 333 Chesterfield Avenue, North Vancouver
- Tickets: phtheatre.org/box-office or 604-990-3474
- Accessibility: contact the Box Office at boxoffice@phtheatre.org or 604-990-3474; directions and parking
- More info: The Sword in the Stone show page
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