In My Day
March 12-21, 2026
By Rick Waines
Director Roy Surette
A powerful and deeply moving play that sheds light on a pivotal chapter in our history. Set during the HIV/AIDS crisis, this poignant production celebrates the resilience of diverse communities who came together in extraordinary ways. Through vivid storytelling, richly drawn characters and moments of humour and joy, Victoria-based playwright Rick Waines honours the voices of those who lived, loved and endured during an era marked by loss, fear and stigma.
Inspired by a community-based research project at the University of Victoria, In My Day brings to life the true stories of long-term survivors living with HIV and their caregivers from the first 15 years of the HIV pandemic in British Columbia. Highlighting the experiences of diverse communities—including women, people of colour, Indigenous peoples, trans individuals, and more—it gives voice to those whose perspectives have often been overlooked.
“My aim with In My Day was to accurately, without losing meaning, tell the story of the first 15 years of the AIDS pandemic using the testimonies of the participants in a theatrically exciting way.”—Rick Waines
In My Day is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Roy Surette, Director
Roy Surette is an acclaimed Canadian theatre director whose career spans over four decades. He has served as Artistic Director for notable theatre companies, including Montreal’s Centaur Theatre, Vancouver’s Touchstone Theatre, and the Belfry Theatre in Victoria. Roy’s extensive body of work includes directing productions across Canada for the National Arts Centre, Shaw Festival, Canadian Stage, Theatre Calgary, and the Arts Club Theatre, as well as internationally in Scotland and Australia.
Victoria audiences will recognize Roy’s contributions at the Belfry Theatre, where he directed over 25 productions, including Mary’s Wedding, The Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, Homechild, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Urinetown: The Musical, and The Valley.
A Studio 58 graduate and multi-award winner, including Jessie Richardson and Monday Magazine awards, Roy is a passionate advocate for the arts, championing Canadian playwrights and mentoring emerging talent, leaving an enduring legacy in Canadian theatre.
Rick Waines, Author
Rick Waines is a playwright based in Victoria, BC, known for his impactful work, In My Day. This verbatim theatre piece delves into the early years of the HIV pandemic in British Columbia, drawing from a community-based oral history project initiated at the University of Victoria. Waines, a hemophiliac who has lived with HIV since the mid-1980s, uses his personal experiences and the stories of others to highlight the triumphs and struggles of those affected by the virus. His work is celebrated for its emotional depth and historical significance, bringing forgotten narratives to the forefront.
Rick discusses his experience with HIV and his work in theatre in the video Rick Waines: Art as Survival/Life Before Death.
About the UVic oral history research project
HIV In My Day, a community-based oral history project gathered the stories of HIV survivors and caregivers during the early years of BC’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. It was adapted into a play that premiered at Vancouver’s The Cultch theatre on December 2, 2022, the day after World AIDS Day. The play’s script draws from almost 120 interviews recorded between 2017 and 2020 as part of a University of Victoria-led research project.
Show Dates
Performances
Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.
Saturday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets
Subscription packages are available now.
Single Tickets for this show are available on March 2.
Charge by phone: 250-721-8000
or in person at the Phoenix Box Office
(online ticket purchases are not available)
- Friday & Saturday: $34
- Wednesday & Thursday: $30
- Cheap Tuesdays: $18
- Student Rush Tickets: $20
30 minutes before each show - UVic Alumni: $25
Saturday Matinees (with UVic Alumni ONECard)
GST included in ticket prices.
Performed in the Roger Bishop Theatre
Creative Team
Creative Team will be posted in Fall 2025
Cast
Cast list will be posted in Fall 2025
Lecture
Preshow Lecture: Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
Join us on the first Friday for a guest lecture about themes in the play.
Lectures are free and everyone is welcome, no matter which performance you have tickets for. The lectures are also recorded and audio files are posted here when available.
Advisories
Relevant advisories will be posted here. We sometimes receive advisories closer to the production dates. Please inquire at the box office if you have questions or concerns.
Strong language and mature content. Recommended age 16+