Lytton Wildfire Stories Take Center Stage in Vancouver
Imagine sitting in a theatre, but instead of a scripted drama, you hear real voices—people who survived one of B.C.’s most devastating wildfires. That’s exactly what Eyes of the Beast delivers, and it’s happening right now in Vancouver.
Bringing Climate Disasters to Life
From June 18 to 21 at 7:30 p.m. and June 21 to 22 at 2 p.m., the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts transforms into a space where real stories of climate crisis come alive. Tickets range from $5 to $50, making this powerful experience accessible to all1.
Eyes of the Beast isn’t just a play—it’s docu-theatre. It weaves together eyewitness accounts from survivors of the 2021 Lytton wildfire and other B.C. climate disasters. The result? A raw, intimate look at what it’s really like to live through these events.
Survivors’ Stories, Told by Students
The first part of the show features testimonials collected by the Climate Disaster Project, a teaching newsroom that works with survivors. Student actors from SFU’s Theatre & Performance program step into the shoes of those who experienced the disasters firsthand. They bring to life the words of a mother and daughter fleeing the Lytton fire, a Fraser Valley fishing guide rescuing animals from floods, and an emergency room worker battling the 2021 heat dome.
Megan Battad, a 21-year-old SFU student, plays Edith, a school administrator who set up a muster station during the Lytton fire, ensuring everyone was evacuated and accounted for. “It’s eye-opening,” Battad says. “A lot of the events that occurred in this play are happening right now. People are being evacuated right now. It’s crazy.”
Why This Play Matters
Sean Holman, a University of Victoria professor and creator of the Climate Disaster Project, explains why Eyes of the Beast stands out: “Too often when we’ve talked about climate change, it’s been as this global, environmental, large-scale experience. This play shows how human, local and present tense it actually is.”
Holman adds that the play helps communities heal by restoring safety, retelling stories, reconnecting with others, and repairing harm. After each performance, a facilitated conversation with an elected official gives survivors and audience members a chance to be heard.
A Groundbreaking Collaboration
This Vancouver production is a remount of a show that premiered at the University of Victoria in 2024 with professional actors. The original run earned Eyes of the Beast a nomination as a finalist in the Canadian Association of Journalists’ 2025 awards for environmental and climate change reporting—marking the first time the CAJ has recognized a collaboration between a newsroom and a theatre company.
What You’ll Take Away
Eyes of the Beast isn’t just about the past. It’s a call to action, a reminder that climate change isn’t a distant threat—it’s here, now, and affecting real people in our communities. Whether you’re a theatre lover, a climate advocate, or just curious, this show will leave you moved and inspired.
So, if you’re in Vancouver this weekend, don’t miss your chance to witness these powerful stories. Because sometimes, the most important conversations start with listening.
