Kismet Theatre began in 2012 downtown Nanaimo onVictoria Rd. It only came into existence, because Actor/Director/Owner/Writer Bonnie Catterson (now Kent) had moved back to the island from Vancouver after becoming extremely ill with. Crohn’s Disease. Unable to continue her pursuit of theatre/film/TV she returned to her family home to get well. Once she was in remission, she began working within the local Arts scene, directing and acting in shows for Western Edge Theatre, and creating original social justice plays for underserved communities, that funded programming for these communities. Teaching an acting summer camp for kids through Arts Alive, she remembered her love of teaching. And once parents began asking where they could bring their kids to classes in the fall, she knew she needed to open her own school. With over 25 years of experience teaching and directing, it seemed like fate (another word for Kismet and how it got it’s name) A school where the craft of acting, confidence, creativity and fun would flourish. This was in July. By mid September Kismet Theatre was born. Kismet blossomed by creating original plays based on whatever the students could dream up. Each year a new course was added, and given Bonnie’s Musical Theatre background, Kismet began producing full length musicals such as Annie, Fame Jr, Rock of Ages, and the Original Indie Rock Musical Cascadia, which Bonnie co wrote with her now husband Andrew Kent. Kismet became known as a training ground for actors. As Bonnie brought over former colleagues from Vancouver to do Master Classes on camera and audition work, and offered filmmaking classes with industry professionals, students began to book professional work. One year, 4 young students were chosen from thousands across the country to be in a kids game show that shot in Toronto. Many of her adult students, and a few youth began to book parts with local theatre companies Western Edge, Theatre One, and Chemainus. Scene Study for adults was a huge success, as were the original social justice plays that raised awareness for local organizations such as Haven House, The Nanaimo Women’s Centre, and Hospice. As the school grew, Bonnie hired more exceptional teachers, and was fortunate to have them when her health took another downturn in 2018 and she spent much of the year in hospital. Kismet was next door to what is now known as The OV Arts Centre, and it is where most of it’s wonderful shows have been performed. Kismet was about to put on it’s first full length Original Musical written by Bonnie and vocal director Wren Beckley when Covid 19 hit. Sadly, this was the end of the downtown location. During the Covid years, Bonnie was in and out of hospital but still managed to act, write and direct shows for Western Edge Theatre. Many of her former students went on to obtain theatre degrees, some got agents and work in Film and TV, and many are hired by local companies in all aspects from behind the scenes as stage managers, to actors and assistant directors. In 2022 she received a grant from the BC Arts Council to produce an Original play with 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, based on their lived experience called Emerge. It played on Pride Weekend and was an incredible success for all. As the pandemic slowed, Bonnie longed to return to teaching and was fortunate to have her talented carpenter husband turn the lower level of their Departure Bay home into an accessible theatre space. The doors of Kismet 2.0 opened in 2023, and two Musical Revues were performed with vocal direction by Mary Littlejohn. In 2024 our student body doubled, and we offered two Musical Theatre programs, one for juniors who made their debut Never Too Young to Rock N Roll, written and directed by all star new coming teacher Laura Mudge, choreographed by Bonnie, with vocal direction by fellow CCPA graduate Melissa Kahan. With the seniors, we did full length Musical Rock of Ages-last performed by Kismet in 2018. The shows were a smashing success! In 2025 Laura brought her extensive film knowledge and our thespians are now working on a Star Wars themed Short film. Summer 2025 will feature an intensive summer camp where performing arts and filmmaking come together in a hilarious spoof on Reality Competition shows, aptly named, Nanaimo’s Got Talent!!! In the Fall, we ended up with TWO FULL Musical Theatre classes, one for juniors (taught by Laura) and our Senior class (taught by Bonnie) Our theme is Technology and it’s effect on the current generation of kids. The Juniors are having a blast working on GAME ON! A musical revue about a group of kids becoming lost INSIDE a video game, and working as a team to escape back into the “real world” by beating bosses and most importantly, supporting one another. Our senior class took on a more serious topic- Online Bullying and how it can destroy confidence, and sometimes, lives. Bonnie opened a dialogue with these 10-13 year olds about what it was like for them at school and socially and was shocked at the level of cruelty and bully behaviour, that back in the 90’s, did not emerge until high school. She asked them what it was like to never be able to TRULY turn off and just be kids, and the stories they told of their lived experience inspired the play Bonnie wrote, integrating the characters THEY developed. This became Always Enough, a tearjerker (both from laughter AND pain) of what it is like to grow up in a world that moves so fast, and they have to find out where they belong before they even know who they truly are. But whomever they are, They will Always Be Enough. This Musical Revue features 7 songs from Pop, Indie Rock, Hip Hop and Broadway, to showcase the INCREDIBLE talent of these young thespians. Both shows will be presented March 6/7th 2026 at the OV Arts Centre. Tickets available here soon!

Kismet is a place where everyone is welcomed, where diversity is celebrated, and where accessibility is important. Come play with us!