When 11-year-old Phoebe and her hippie tree-farmer dad move from Saltspring Island to Vancouver, she’s determined to fit into her new school. But a chaotic classroom, an over-caffeinated teacher, and a high-stakes holiday gift exchange soon test her resolve.
When Phoebe’s well-meant plans go sideways, her unexpected gift brings a hint of magic to everyone around her. The Gift Exchange is a hilarious, big-hearted holiday comedy about belonging, kindness, and the true spirit of giving.
Family friendly. Of most interest to those ages 8+
WORLD PREMIERE | COMEDY | FAMILY-FRIENDLY
The Gift Exchange
Christmas Show
December 9 - 23, 2026
Opening December 10
CAST
Lauren Bowler
Chantelle Han
Kevin Krychkywich
Olivia Padfield
CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright – Meghan Gardiner
Director – Sara-Jeanne Hosie
Stage Manager and Sound Designer – Sam Snyders
Costume Designer – Rebecca Chaiken
Lighting Designer – Louise Guinand
Set Designer – Darren Burkett
The Gift Exchange is supported by these wonderful people:
Show Sponsor: DJ Anderson
Production Supporters:
Lee Myers, Tricia O’Malley and Ron Hikel
Meet the Cast
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Here For Now is one of Lauren’s most-prized theatre homes to return to, having previously appeared in The Rules of Playing Risk, The Myth of the Ostrich, Ale Wives, and The Tracks. Most recently Lauren was in Grow at the Segal Centre. Other recent appearances include Theatre Orangeville, Urban Ink, Citadel Theatre, National Arts Centre, Arts Club Theatre, Belfry Theatre, Drayton Entertainment, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Firehall Arts Centre, + Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Lauren co-owns The Leonor (21 George St. E - come say hi!), & the Great Wall Tea Company. Lauren is passionate, yes, passionate about horror movies, drinking tea, & discussing politics, often at the same time. Much love to SJ, Meghan, the whole HFN team, & everyone at the House of 1000 Cats.
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Chantelle Han is a Filipina-Korean-Canadian actor, director, and producer. Previously at Here For Now: Stick Around. Select stage credits include: Kim’s Convenience (Soulpepper, MTC, Arts Club, Citadel), Post-Democracy (Tarragon Theatre), Strangers on a Train (Vertigo Theatre) and Slipper (ATP). On screen, she won Best Lead Performance awards for her roles in the feature films, Circle of Steel (Kino Sum) and Peppergrass (BLS), and had recurring roles in Netflix’s Black Summer and Departure (Global/Peacock). Chantelle has directed the world premieres of 5 new Canadian plays, was the Assistant Director on Wedding Band at the Stratford Festival (Tyrone Guthrie Award), and Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary at Crow’s Theatre. This summer she directed the Filipino folk epic, Through the Bamboo, for Crossroads Theatre - with puppets! Upcoming: Fantômata (Barbet). Many thanks to SJ and my Stratford family. For Darla, Binou, Alfalfa, Toupée, Old Sport, and Butch.
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Having improvised in a field in 2020 (Instant Theatre) and directed the inaugural production in the new space last year (Stick Around), Kevin is excited to be back at HFN for his third go ‘round.
A veteran of Canadian theatre, he has worked back and forth across this country; from Victoria to Halifax and most stops in between. He’s done six seasons at the Stratford Festival, toured southern England and South Africa, and spent time doing a Canadian play in Munich, Germany.
Some Highlights: Paradise Lost,12 Angry Men, Death of a Salesman, Rough Crossing, Respectable, The Aberhart Summer, The Philadelphia Story, The Taming of the Shrew, Boeing Boeing, Falstaff, Guys and Dolls, The Red Priest, and of course…Look, No Hans!
Love to SJ and Fran
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Olivia Padfield is a vibrant young performer whose passion for the arts shines in every role she takes on. Most recently featured in the Stratford Festival’s Annie as Audrey and understudy for the title role, she brings energy, professionalism, and versatility to every stage she steps on. Her additional theatre credits include A Good Old-Fashioned Big Family Christmas at Theatre Wellesley and Life the Musical with Singer’s Theatre.
A multi‑talented artist, Olivia trains in acting, dance, voice, and music. As a soprano, she has earned top honors at both the Stratford Kiwanis Festival and the Ontario Music Festival Association. Beyond theatre, she plays piano, has performed violin with the Cambridge Youth Orchestra, and sings with Pop Nation Canada.
She extends heartfelt thanks to her teachers, her agent Frank da Costa, and her family—without whom she wouldn’t be where she is today.
Meet the Creative Team
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Meghan is an actor and writer living in Vancouver, BC. She has written ten professionally produced plays, including Dissolve, her one woman show that continues to tour after twenty-two years. Additional works include Gross Misconduct (Gateway Theatre/SpeakEasy), We Three (Carousel Theatre), Blind Spot, Role Call (Green Thumb Theatre), and Love Bomb and To Perfection (Shameless Hussy Productions). Her short film Stalled visited 64 film festivals and led to nominations for both screenwriting and performance at the Leo Awards. She is currently working on a Silver commission for the Arts Club Theatre Company. Meghan was nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and received the Sydney Risk Award for Emerging playwright at the 2012 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards.
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Here For Now credits : Myth of the Ostrich, Take Care and Alewives. Sara-Jeanne has been a national theatre artist for over 25 years and proudly dons many hats. With a driving passion for new work SJ finds herself at home at Here For Now Theatre. Sara-Jeanne is proud to be the original Canadian Alison Bechdel in Fun Home. She has performed on many stages including Musical Stage Co, The Charlottetown Festival,The Stratford Festival, Neptune Theatre, Chemainus Theatre Festival, The Belfry, Drayton Festival, and The Arts Club. Favourite roles include; Holly in Myth of the Ostrich, Mary in Mary Poppins, The Bakers Wife in Into The Woods, Salle Bowles in Cabaret, and Fantine in Les Miz. Most warmly known to audiences for her five seasons as the Villain in the Ross Petty Panto and her numerous productions as Patsy in A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Sara-Jeanne is also a director, a Dora-nominated choreographer (Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Eclipse Theatre) and former Executive Director of ETC. In February of 2020, Sara-Jeanne premiered her musical Talking Sex On Sunday at the Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver. It was nominated for best production in the Jessie Richardson Awards. During the pandemic, SJ explored yet another avenue by opening a small business @fawn.overyou
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Darren is thrilled to be back for the whole summer season at HFN! Previous Design work: Apples in Winter [Set, Lighting and Costume], Dinner with the Duchess [Set in a co-pro with Crows Theatre], 12 Dinners [Set], Life Without [Set and Costume], The Fox [Set] (Here For Now), Legally Blonde [Set] (Metro Theatre), Wizard of Oz [Set] (Pulse Productions), Something Rotten, Seussical The Musical [Set], Mamma Mia! [Set and Lighting] (Secondary Characters), and multiple set and lighting designs for dance and theatre schools in Vancouver. As an actor, he has worked across the globe. Many thanks to the whole HFN team for the unwavering trust in me, and his family, friends and especially Hunter for their never ending love and support!
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Originally from Bangalore, India, Karthik is an actor, director, and designer. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2020 and has been working in the industry ever since with companies such as the Stratford Festival, Bard on the Beach, the Arts Club, and Why Not Theatre. His costume design credits include Behind the Moon with Touchstone Theatre and Dissolve with Shameless Hussey Productions. Karthik is thrilled to be designing this beautiful show with such lovely company.
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Louise Guinand has designed lighting for over 600 shows. Her work has been seen on stages across Canada. She delights in the ever-changing nature of the theatre and the discoveries every new space and production brings.
Louise is pleased to be returning to Here For Now for their second winter season!
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Sam is an emerging theatre artist from Mitchell, Ontario, glad to be back for his third season at Here For Now. Previously at HFN, Sam stage-managed Apples in Winter, Humour Me, Stick Around, The Saviour, and Paul and Linda Plan a Threesome, and sound-designed The Rules of Playing Risk. No stranger to the Rose McQueen Stage, Sam also played Aaron in last year's Forget About Tomorrow. Other acting credits include Boris Trigorin in The Seagull (Strands of the Night), Pierre in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (AUTS McGill), Jason in Medea (Player's Theatre) and Moe in Pomona (Moyse Hall). Sam recently graduated from McGill University with a BA in English: Drama & Theatre. Thank you, always, to his family and friends for their constant support.
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“The Gift Exchange was commissioned by Carousel Theatre for Young People (Vancouver BC). The Gift Exchange received additional development support from and premiered at Here for Now Theatre (Stratford, ON) in December 2026.
The Gift Exchange is produced by permission of the Playwright and Marquis Literary (Colin Rivers) www.MQlit.ca.
Meghan Gardiner is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada.”