The Pumphouse Theatre Presents:
Common Ground Festival
Nov 12 – 15, 2025
The Common Ground Festival returns this fall to bring you six brand new shows from six amazing Calgary artists.
Each night will feature 2 or 3 performances, all which will run sixty minutes or less in length. Evenings begin at 7:30pm with a Saturday Matinee on the 15th starting at 2:30pm.
From November 12th to 15th, 2025 at the Pumphouse Theatre you can catch (shows below)
An homage to the genre of “Romantasy”, Third Draft Theatre brings you a fantasy to sweep you off your feet. When two heroines from separate fantastical worlds are plunged into a purgatory darkness, they must discover how to wield not only their respective magic powers, but also their inner strength and self-mastery, in order to save two universes. With only an overhead projector and the legends of old, these heroines explore the intersections of romantic ideals and fantastic reality in a new staged reading
that will leave you burning for more.
Zork is an alien scout from Alpha Centauri with a mission: learn as much about humanity and find humanity’s weakness. Instead, Zork finds something new to believe in; RAVES! Join Zork as they dodge conspiracy theorists, discover bass drops, and ultimately learn what it means to forge your own path.
The Farmer Jo & Chicken Show by Logan Sundquist
November 13th & 15th (Matinee)
“The Farmer Jo & Chicken Show” by Logan Sundquist is a theatre for young audiences show, made for the whole family. Through inviting you, our Trainee S.C.I.E.N.C.E. Scientists, we will go together on a hunt for remaining trees in a dry and dusty future world. Tackling climate change and conservation efforts is a tricky task, but with your help, Farmer Jo and Chicken will surely make a difference and have some fun along the way! This workshop staged reading will include audience interaction, so bring your smarts and your creativity.
This piece is a historical fiction based on the life of Brigham Morris Young, son of the second prophet/president of the the LDS/Mormon church, Brigham Young Morris occasionally performed as Madam Pattirini at various events.
A comedy circus show celebrating authenticity and community, inspired by over a decade of performing at small town fairs, festivals, and other community events. Dance, juggling, hula hoops, acrobatics, and a lot of silliness come together to create a show filled with joy and a reminder that whatever problems we face, it’s better to face them together.
Every Waking Second by Sarah Innes & Soph Sloan
November 14th & 15th (Evening)
Every Waking Second… is a short, comedic play focused on sleep. Stevie–a chronic overachiever—has not slept a night in five years; she fuels herself on stress and caffeine. One morning, while running late for work and picking up her usual coffee order at her usual cafe, Stevie trips on her shoelace. Stevie divulges her situation to the calm and mysterious barista, Maeve–who has served Stevie more coffees than she can count. Maeve offers to help Stevie fall asleep. Maeve and Stevie try various tactics, including hypnosis, to no avail. The two discuss their hopes, dreams, and fears. As the situation seems fraught and the tension grows between the characters, a romance may transpire.
Dreamlike sequences break up the scenes between Stevie and Maeve as Stevie’s notions of reality come into question. Sleep is vital to health, happiness, and day-to-day functioning; however, many champion work over rest. This piece delves into the detrimental effects of a society that emphasizes work, achievements, and perfection over an individual’s own health and well-being. Through humour, it aims to interrogate what it means to dream, relax, and let go and the internal and external factors we must surmount to do this!
