Firehall Arts Centre Presents World Premiere of “Canadian Psycho” (March 31-April 12)

The Firehall Arts Centre presents the world premiere of Canadian Psycho this spring from Tuesday, March 31 to Sunday, April 12, 2026.

What came first, the psychological crime thriller… or the crime itself? While Hollywood congratulates itself on “diversity”, the juiciest, darkest, most complex roles still seem reserved for white men — because they’re based on the world’s most infamous people: American serial killers. There’s only one way to change that…

Blending original electronic music, dynamic movement and striking video design, this satirical solo show, produced by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct) and ITSAZOO Productions, is a provocative takedown of the model minority myth and an unhinged interrogation of who gets to be seen, centered, and mythologized. 

Playwright Marlene Ginader adds, “Mostly, it’s about a half-Asian woman who’s frustrated by the lack of inclusion in the serial killer space, and is finally ready to do something about it.”

Written & Performed by:  Marlene Ginader

Directed by:  Jenna Rodgers

Set & Props Designer | Costume Consultant:  Ryan Cormack

Composer, Costume, & Co-Projection Designer:  Marlene Ginader

Lighting Designer:  Jonathan Kim

Co-Projection Designer:  Andie Lloyd

Sound Designer:  June Hsu

Choreographer:  Amanda Testini

Stage Manager:  Jasmin Sandhu

Apprentice Stage Manager:  Vicki Santos

Production Manager:  Jamie Sweeney

Produced by:  Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre & ITSAZOO Productions 

Founded in 2001 by Joyce Lam, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct) first began as a community theatre. Over the next 12 years, vAct collaborated with over 500 Asian Canadian theatre artists, and produced over 40 shows. In 2013, Donna Yamamoto was appointed as the Producing Artistic Director. Thus began vAct’s rapid transformation from a community theatre to one of the most exciting diversity-mandated professional theatre companies in Canada. In the Western Canadian theatre community, vAct plays a unique role. We are the only professional theatre company in Western Canada to consistently premiere new works by Asian Canadians. Following Donna’s retirement in 2022, Derek Chan took over as Managing Artistic Director, bringing with him over a decade’s experience in creating, developing, and producing original intercultural, multilingual works within BC, across Canada, and internationally.

ITSAZOO Productions creates immersive, dynamic theatre events for daring audiences. We support this with four core values: Immersion, Risk, Fun, and Community. Whether it’s a fly-on-the-wall, immersive experience or a participatory, site specific event, we can create theatre for anyone, anytime, anywhere. We don’t want our audience to just watch the story. We want our audience to experience the world of the story; to live through it.

With over forty years’ history of weaving diverse storytelling into the fabric of Greater Vancouver, Firehall Arts Centre is where stories come alive. Through theatre, dance, music, inter-disciplinary work and the visual arts, The Firehall has embraced its mission to enrich lives and expand minds through the arts. One of the most unique cultural institutions in British Columbia, The Firehall – in more predictable times – hosts over two hundred performances per year. Located in the city-owned heritage fire station built in 1906, The Firehall’s intimate black box studio theatre along with its outdoor courtyard performance area and its rehearsal studio has served to support innovative, eclectic, and often politically-charged theatre productions as well as exquisite, cutting-edge dance and music performances. The Firehall is proud to support emerging and established performing artists and companies, and strives to program work that is inclusive, culturally rich, and reflective of the many voices and perspectives in Canada.