It’s back!  Welcome to the 11th Annual Cannonball!  This Festival of Youth-led Theatre takes place in May, 2026 and features seven youth-written/directed/stage managed/performed/designed/produced plays, our annual Improv Night including our popular Alumni Improv Fundraiser, our closing night Season Launch Party, and a special featured performance of our touring play The Midnight Fort!  Check the schedule below and join us for this season’s thrilling lineup!

Nightly Pass: $25 – See 3 shows for the price of one!*
*Individual show tickets may be available at the door for $10, however these are subject to availability and we are often sold out, so if you want to avoid disappointment, we recommend purchasing a nightly pass online in advance.

The Midnight Fort

Written by Charlotte Nixon, Directed by Amy Sawka

Presented with Support from Calgary YMCA

Nine-year-old Robin, queen of make-believe, is awakened in the middle of the night by a mysterious glow coming from her living room. The couch-cushion fort she made before bed has magically come to life and is now the gateway to the kingdom of Cravendale. Never one to shy away from adventure, Robin is soon discovered by Major Mirabelle, the princess-protector and tasked with a special mission: to maintain a secret hideout for the creatures of the land! Robin’s living room soon fills up with sassy sprites, acrobatic Wally-Bats, and grannies who foresee the future. But no one could foresee the danger lurking behind the cushions. Before the night is out, Robin and her newfound friends must take a stand—the future of Cravendale depends on it.

The Timeless Lesson

By Brooklyn Steer and Ryley Budd

During a great battle between France and Great Britain in 1773, the famous General Aaron is knocked out and taken to a whole new world. Swept from a sword fight to a day in school, our General learns humanity’s potential and starts to see the world in a new way. Join him on his comedic journey into the future – and see what is meant to be.

Penumbrae

By Nina Addleman

Icarus is trapped. Cut down for his hubris and burned by the sun, he lives in purgatory, isolated and alone. A subject of poetic fascination, he will never fade into obscurity – but he is caught between death and life, unable to pass to Hades’ realm. So, when his shadow begins to speak to him, to promise him a way out, Icarus can’t help but listen. Penumbrae is about the light within shadows, how hope and healing are non-linear, and how sometimes, all you need is a friend. 

Staged Reading Series

Join us in celebrating the creativity of our community with these short excerpts from shows currently being written!  Our staged reading series allows us to showcase even more work from our youth writers – and watch out, because some of them may be coming to a Cannonball festival near you next year!

The Hum

By Caden Arsenault

What if listening was dangerous?

When a rare auditory phenomenon becomes the focus of a high-stakes experiment, scientist Sebastian Ortiz is sent to a remote laboratory to uncover the truth. As his colleague—now turned test subject—Leon Ivankov is pushed further into the experiment, the boundaries between science and morality begin to erode. Alongside their sharp and witty assistant Cass Becker, the team uncovers unsettling truths about the authority overseeing their work, truths that should have surfaced years ago. And as the phenomenon grows louder, so do the consequences, forcing them to confront the ethics of their research and the human cost of discovery. The Hum examines the tension between progress and compassion, asking how far those in power can push before they destroy the very thing they seek to understand.

ALUMNI IMPROV FUNDRAISER

A thrilling evening of improv, performed by CYPT alumni! Admission for this event is by donation. All donations will be processed through Rogers Birdies for Kids and may be matched by up to 50%!

Meet Up At Newt Landing

By Pidge Melgarejo Hiebert and Arlan LaValleé-Nairn

When a group of friends gets together for Christmas Eve, they know that it’ll be their last Christmas together. What they don’t know is that they’ll be trapped together for hours on end. The small town high school band Newt Landing may seem like a tight knit group of friends, but grievances lay hidden just below the surface. Tensions rise as time goes on – and secrets are revealed that will forever change the dynamic of the group.

Sucked In 

By Sutter Tangedal

Have you ever thought about what’s in your phone? Well, hold on, because you’re about to be sucked in!  A magical lightning strike has left John and Stacey, two screen-addicted teenagers, trapped within Stacey’s phone.  With the help of their new friend Gigi, also known as Google Assistant, they must now adventure through the phone’s apps in order to find a way out. Along the quest there will be comedy, music and heartwarming moments.  Do you think they’ll escape? Who knows!

Waiting In The Sky

By Miles Chan and Teo Lee-Tibbals

Skyler is turning 30 and is working hard as he tries to climb the corporate ladder, though he hasn’t gotten any higher in years. One day, he receives word from an alien – an alien that wants his help, who promises to change the course of his life. With his family and colleagues breathing down his neck, will Skyler be able to help this intergalactic stranger, or is he doomed to sit in a cubicle for the rest of his life?

FINGERNAILS

By Dan Whyte

The tides have ebbed, the world stands still, but the clock remains ticking.

Trapped recounting bittersweet memories of his first love, Gale, a grief-stricken painter, finds himself wading through buried tenderness, loss, and truth. He desperately searches for an escape, finding his prior comforts have turned sour. As familiarity burns, Gale must decide to let go or relent to the fire. 

Time is running out.

SEASON LAUNCH PARTY!

Join us for this celebration of the season just completed and for the announcement of the shows that will make up our 2026/27 Mainstage Season!  The launch is followed by a dance party to celebrate all of our Cannonball teams and new graduates!