From murder mysteries to sweet love stories to hilarious world premieres, there’s still a lot in store for Globus Theatre’s 2026 season — and it’s not too late to become a subscriber.
For more than 20 years, the professional theatre company in Bobcaygeon has invited residents and visitors to its charming barn at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road for dinner and theatre experiences.
A recent winner of the Tourism Award of Excellence from the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, Globus Theatre draws patrons and theatre lovers from across the province to enjoy celebrated and original works by Canadian playwrights.
As is the case every year, artistic director Sarah Quick works diligently to present a cohesive season, but one where every show is different than the one before.
“Ideally when people pick up the season brochure, they definitely find at least one show that really speaks to them and they say ‘That is right up my alley,'” Quick says. “But hopefully what actually happens is they say, ‘Oh, I like that one as well, and that one too,’ and then end up being a subscriber.”
Globus Theatre’s 23rd season — its fourth extended season running from May through December — started off in a big way with the 20th anniversary celebration of Girls Nite Out, the female improv troupe that got its roots at Globus Theatre. The sold-out celebration was followed by the ultimate ’70s soundtrack with Get Down Tonight starring Leisa Way and her Wayward Wind Band.
If you saw either show, you can turn your ticket into a subscription package, with the ticket value being deducted from the total cost. Except for the annual holiday panto, individual show tickets are priced at $50 each for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show, with murder mysteries available only as dinner and theatre.
To purchase season subscriptions or tickets to individual shows, visit www.globustheatre.com.
Here’s what’s coming up for the rest of Globus Theatre’s 2026 season.
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition (June 24 – July 4)
An original murder mystery experience written by Quick, Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition is centred around the world’s biggest sporting event.
With Quick herself an avid soccer fan, it’s no coincidence the show takes place during the actual World Cup, which is being hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico for the first time.
“Doing something that it so current — that is actually going on at the same time as the World Cup is taking place — allows for all sorts of shenanigans and contemporary references,” Quick says. “If something happens that morning during a game, we can reference it that night and we can riff on it. It’s really the characters and the plot that are scripted — anything in between is fair game.”
The plot involves the hunt for goals and glory spiralling into a red-card-worthy disaster as scheming managers, spotlight-hungry influencers, over-pressured superstars, and sports officials juggle international egos. When one key player doesn’t make it to kickoff, suspicion erupts and suddenly every border crossing hides clues, and every match hides a motive.
The murder mystery is a sequel of sorts to Quick’s Murder at the Match: A World Cup Murder Mystery in 2022, which celebrated Canada’s return to the World Cup after 36 years and where audiences worked to solve the murder of fictional Canadian soccer legend Diego Marrydora.
“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t see the last World Cup murder mystery at all, but there will be a nod to it because it became such a story that everyone was invested in,” says Quick. “I think we can do this every World Cup.”
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition will feature Jennine Profeta, Kerry Griffin, Allan Cooke, Mallory Brumm, and Kyle Claeys. Audiences are encouraged to get dressed up in their appropriate costumes or to dress in the colours of country participating in the World Cup. If you’re not a footie fan like Quick, don’t fear — it’s more about the behind-the-scenes mystery than what’s happening on the pitch.
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition runs Thursdays to Saturdays from June 25 to 27 and from July 2 to 4 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), with a 12:30 p.m. matinee performance on June 27 (doors open at noon).
Sore Losers (July 15 – 25)
Summer continues at Globus Theatre with another sports-themed show that also happens to be a world premiere from accomplished Canadian actor Bradley Austin in his playwriting debut.
In Sore Losers, Burt and his niece Angie run the family bowling alley, a beloved relic that now faces financial ruin as it competes with the flashier Galaxy Bowl. Burt and lifelong friend Jim have never won anything, but in their desperation to save the business and their pride, they develop a plan to win the provincial championship.
Their last-ditch effort hinges on recruiting the town’s earnest but clueless new dentist for the hilarious, high-stakes battle.
“I love it when Globus Theatre becomes this incubator and gives opportunities, whether it’s to a new artist or a new playwright,” Quick says. “Bradley is going to be in the show as well, and it’s really exciting to be able to go to through rehearsal process with the playwright right there. That is very helpful for the first time that a show is being performed.”
Sore Losers is being staged at 8 p.m. from July 15 to 18 and July 22 to 25, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on July 18 and 23.
Downtown Detective Trail (July 27 – 31)
Young performers in Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts (SODA) summer camp will be once again be presenting the Downtown Detective Trail, an annual immersive event in Bobcaygeon that gets people interacting with the stories being staged at Globus Theatre.
From July 27 to 31, the Downtown Detective Trail will be held as a bus tour done in collaboration with Bobcaygeon’s 150-year anniversary celebrations.
“They’ll be going to little stops around Bobcaygeon, including Kawartha Settlers Village, Kawartha Dairy, and The Locks,” Quick says. “It’s going to be bigger and better than before.”
As with Globus Theatre’s shows, Quick is hopeful that the event will draw even more tourists to the region.
“I’m not sure the majority of people realize how much the arts actually make people move around Ontario,” Quick explains. “When they’re looking for a place to visit, they will go specifically because they’ve seen a certain show that piqued their interest, and that’s when they start researching accommodation and where to eat and where to shop.”
“We’ve got a lot to showcase and I’m really proud that Globus is one of those places that people want to come and experience.”
Leave it to Cleavage (July 30 – August 1)
Following the success of Girls Nite Out, two members of the troupe — Diana Frances and Karen Parker — will be returning to the Globus stage for the second time this season with Leave it to Cleavage.
Sipping martinis, the cheeky housewives will transport you back in time to the 1950s through interactive audience participation and a tipsy walk down memory lane. The women will be calling on audiences to help them re-write their “Helpful Housewife Hints,” while getting to know them with “Welcome Wagon” treats.
“Although it is a scripted performance, they will be going to the audience to get their impressions of certain things as well to help them rewrite these rules,” says Quick. “The audience helps shape the show.”
Leave it to Cleavage is being staged for three nights only at 8 p.m. from July 30 to August 1.
Fly Me to the Moon (August 5 – 15)
Globus Theatre transports audiences to Belfast, Ireland with Fly Me to the Moon, a dark comedy by Marie Jones, the hilarious playwright of the world-wide hit Stones in His Pockets.
Overworked and underpaid community carers Francis and Loretta face an irresistible temptation after their 84-year-old client Davey, a Frank Sinatra fan, dies on pension day: should they keep Davey’s death a secret and cash in his pension cheque?
The situation quickly spirals out of control when they discover Davey placed a winning bet on the horses just before he died, presenting them with a much larger temptation.
Fly Me to the Moon is being staged at 8 p.m. from August 5 to 8 and August 12 to 15, with additional 2 p.m. matinee performances on August 8 and 13.
Beyond the Sea (August 19 to 29)
For Globus Theatre patrons who missed Quick taking to the stage last season alongside her husband, Globus Theatre’s artistic producer James Barrett, they will have another chance when Globus presents Kristen Da Silva’s Beyond the Sea.
On a summer day at a pier, two strangers stumble into an encounter that might save them both. There’s Theo, a recently single man with a self-image problem, and Gwen, a good-humoured loner who works at the ticket booth for a local boat tour company.
Quick says the story about the emergence of hope through grief is a “touching romance” that’s perfect for date night.
“It’s a witty story, but it is a story of life and love and loss,” she adds. “It’s totally worthwhile — it’s a lovely story.”
Beyond the Sea is being presented at 8 p.m. from August 19 to 22 and August 26 to 29, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on August 22 and 27.
A Woman’s Love List (September 30 – October 10)
For the fall, Globus Theatre is once again staging a play from beloved Canadian playwright Norm Foster.
In his 2023 comedy The Love List, Foster told the story of two men writing up a list of qualities defining the perfect woman who, much to their surprise, appears. In A Woman’s Love List, Foster turns it all around, with Megan and Carly finding what they believe is their perfect man.
In doing so, the two ladies discover that genuine love isn’t a quest for perfection, but a willingness to love someone fully — quirks, flaws, and all.
Many of the playwrights featured by Globus this season have passed on their expertise to one another. Foster mentored Beyond the Sea playwright Kristen Da Silva, who mentored Sore Losers playwright Bradley Austin.
“It’s lovely that there are all of these Canadian writers passing on their knowledge, and helping and encouraging and inspiring,” Quick reflects. “It means that we now have a great catalogue of modern Canadian plays that are relevant to all of our lives. If we’re talking about shopping local and shopping Canadian, then the arts need to do that as well.”
A Woman’s Love List is being staged in the round — meaning the audience will be on all sides of the stage — at 8 p.m. from September 30 to October 3 and September 7 to 10, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on October 3, 8, and 10.
A Hula Holiday Homicide (November 18 – 28)
Globus Theatre will begin the holiday season with A Hula Holiday Homicide, a tropical festive murder mystery dinner theatre experience.
At Surfside Beach, travellers have ditched the snow to enjoy a festive tropical holiday with mulled rum, Santa hats, and flip-flops. But beneath the tinsel and tan lines, someone has ditched being nice for being naughty and a murder ensues.
A Hula Holiday Homicide will be staged at 6:30 p.m. from November 19 to 21 and 26 to 28.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (December 9 – 20)
For its annual traditional British panto to close out the season, Globus Theatre is staging a retelling of the classic fairytale.
Filled with laughter, songs, and audience participation, this family adventure introduces Baron Weakneazie and his new bride the Red Queen of Poppydale, who is making life miserable for stepdaughter Snow White. With only her nanny Dame Wobbley Botham to comfort her, Snow White seeks shelter at the home of seven colourful characters.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs is being staged for eight public shows, at 7 p.m. on December 11, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 12 and 19, at 2 p.m. on December 13 and 20, and at 8 p.m. on December 18. A Christmas dinner will be available prior to evening performances.
Theatre tickets are priced at $35 for adults and $22.50 for audiences under 16 for the show only, and $85 for adults and $42.50 for children 10 and under for dinner and the show.
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