WORLD PREMIERE | COMEDY | FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Written by Meghan Gardiner
Directed by Sara-Jeanne Hosie
Cast and full creative team will be announced soon.
The Gift Exchange
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 Christmas comedy about belonging, kindness, and the true spirit of giving.
Family friendly. Of most interest to those ages 8+
Christmas Show
December 9th - 23rd 2026
Opening December 10th
The Gift Exchange is supported by these wonderful people:
Show Sponsor: DJ Anderson
Production Supporters: TBD
Meet the Team
Meghan Gardiner, Playwright
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.
Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Director
Sara-Jeanne is familiar to Here For Now from Myth of the Ostrich, and Take Care. She is a theatre artist who enjoying playing on both sides of the table. Directing and Acting are equal passions. Most recently SJ played Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for the Stratford Festival. Other fav Stratford credits include Dindon in La Cage, Smee in Wendy & Peter. She will be retuning in 2025 to play Snout in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Old Took in The Hobbit and Eleanor Marwood in The Tao of the world. Favother credit include: as a Director/Choreographer: Godspell, SUDS, Blood Brothers (Arts Club) Out of Order (Drayton Ent.) Kiss of the Spider Woman (Eclipse); As an actor: Miss Stacy in Anne, Tanya in Mamma Mia! (Charlottetown Festival); 5 Villains in the Ross Petty Pantos; Kate in The Wild Party, Charlotte in Falsettos(Musical Stage); Mary in Mary Poppins, Fantine in Les Mis, Original Canadian Alison in Fun Home (Arts Club); Baker's Wife in Into the Woods (Neptune); Velma in Chicago(Mayfield); Rona in Spelling Bee (Belfry); follow Sj @sjhosie or Check out SJ's new venture The Leonor on George Street. @theleonorongeorge.
Full creative team and cast will be announced soon…
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“The Gift Exchange was commissioned by Carousel Theatre (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.”