April 28, 2026
Lighthouse Festival
By Don Kearney-Bourque, Marketing & Communications Manager
There’s something about Newfoundland & Labrador that feels a little larger than life.
Maybe it’s the cliffs that drop dramatically into the Atlantic. Maybe it’s the houses painted in every colour imaginable, like a box of crayons spilled happily along the coastline. Or maybe it’s the people; quick with a joke, generous with a story, and always ready to point you toward the nearest cup of tea (or something stronger).
Whatever it is, Newfoundland has a way of pulling you in. And, as it turns out, it makes the perfect destination, not just for travellers, but for four fearless women at the centre of The Beaver Club, the hilarious season opener at Lighthouse Festival.
Because when you’re planning the ultimate cross-country road trip from Toronto to… Dildo, Newfoundland (yes, that Dildo), you don’t exactly pick somewhere boring to land.
Icebergs, Whales, and “Is This Even Real?”
Let’s start with the showstoppers.
Every spring and early summer, massive icebergs drift down along Newfoundland’s coast in what’s affectionately known as “Iceberg Alley.” These aren’t your average ice cubes; they’re ancient, sculptural giants, carved by time and ocean currents, glowing an impossible blue against the sea.
You can spot them from shore. You can boat right up to them. You can stare at them for an unreasonable amount of time while saying things like, “This can’t be real,” and “I think I just felt something spiritually.”
And just when you think it can’t get any better – enter the whales.
Newfoundland is one of the best places in the world for whale watching, especially humpbacks. They breach, they splash, they generally put on a show that would make any theatre production jealous (we said any, not every, let’s not get carried away).
It’s not hard to imagine the characters in The Beaver Club pulling over mid-road trip, abandoning all plans, and collectively losing their minds at the sight of a whale flipping its tail like it knows it has an audience.
Jellybean Rows and Picture-Perfect Streets
If Newfoundland were a painting, someone clearly turned the saturation all the way up.
In St. John’s and many coastal communities, you’ll find the famous “Jellybean Row” houses – bright, cheerful homes painted in bold colours that seem to defy grey skies and foggy mornings. It’s as if the buildings themselves decided that a little weather wasn’t going to dull their personality.
And that’s kind of the whole vibe of Newfoundland.
There’s a warmth here that goes beyond the scenery. People talk to you. Strangers become acquaintances, and acquaintances become friends in the time it takes to share a laugh.
Which, if you’ve met the women of The Beaver Club, feels oddly familiar.
Because at its heart, that play isn’t just about the destination; it’s about connection. It’s about the stories we tell, the ones we maybe shouldn’t tell, and the friendships that somehow survive all of it.
Newfoundland just happens to be the perfect backdrop for that kind of honesty.
Standing on Signal Hill (and Feeling Very Small in the Best Way)
If you want a view that makes you pause mid-sentence, head to Signal Hill.
Overlooking St. John’s harbour, this historic site is where Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901. Which is impressive. But also, if we’re being honest, you’ll be a bit distracted by the sweeping ocean views, the rugged cliffs, and the feeling that you’ve stepped into a postcard.
It’s the kind of place that invites reflection. Or, depending on your personality, dramatic declarations.
Or, if you’re part of The Beaver Club, possibly a loud group debate about snacks, life choices, or who’s been holding onto that one story for far too long.
Gros Morne National Park: Nature Showing Off
Then there’s Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels like several different planets stitched together.
You’ve got fjords carved by glaciers, mountains that rise straight out of the earth, and the Tablelands; a surreal, rust-coloured landscape that looks more like Mars than Atlantic Canada.
It’s the kind of place where you can hike, boat, wander, and occasionally stop just to say, “Okay, but how is this all in one place?”
And again, it’s easy to imagine our four road-tripping friends here – equal parts awe-struck and slightly unprepared, possibly arguing over directions while standing in one of the most breathtaking locations in the country.
Because that’s the beauty of both travel and theatre: the mix of the extraordinary and the very, very human.
Vikings, History, and “Wait… Vikings?”
Yes, Vikings.
At L’Anse aux Meadows, you’ll find the remains of a Norse settlement dating back over 1,000 years – the only confirmed Viking site in North America.
It’s one of those places that quietly shifts your perspective. You’re standing on the edge of the continent, looking out at the same ocean those early explorers crossed, and suddenly history feels a lot less distant.
Also, it’s just objectively cool to say, “I went to a Viking settlement today.”
Would the women of The Beaver Club make it all the way up here on their road trip? Hard to say.
Would they intend to? Absolutely.
Would they get sidetracked, take a wrong turn, or spend too long in a roadside diner telling stories and laughing until closing time?
Also absolutely.
And Then… Dildo
Of course, we can’t talk about Newfoundland, or The Beaver Club, without talking about Dildo.
Yes, it’s real. Yes, it’s charming. And yes, it’s the final destination for one of the most delightfully chaotic road trips you’ll ever witness on stage.
In real life, Dildo is a small, scenic community with a beautiful harbour, friendly locals, and the kind of coastal views that remind you why people fall in love with Newfoundland in the first place.
In The Beaver Club, it becomes something more.
It’s the finish line. The punchline. The place where everything, every argument, every laugh, every confession, finally lands.
And like any great destination, it’s not just about getting there.
It’s about everything that happens along the way.
Why Newfoundland (and This Play) Just Work
There’s a reason Newfoundland feels like the perfect ending point for The Beaver Club.
It’s bold. It’s beautiful. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it also knows exactly who it is.
Sound familiar?
Because that’s the spirit of the play, too.
Four women pile into a car and set off across the country, bringing with them all the chaos, humour, and heart that real friendship demands. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s laugh-out-loud funny. And underneath it all, it’s deeply human.
Newfoundland mirrors that energy.
It’s a place where you can stand in awe of an iceberg, laugh with a stranger, hike through a landscape that doesn’t feel real, and end your day in a town with a name that will absolutely make you giggle.
It invites you to experience everything fully; no holding back.
Which, if you think about it, is exactly what The Beaver Club is asking you to do.
No Road Trip Required (We’ve Got You Covered)
The good news?
You don’t actually have to drive across the country to get a taste of this journey.
The Beaver Club brings the spirit of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the unforgettable ride it takes to get there, right to the stage at Lighthouse Festival.
All the laughter. All the chaos. All the moments that make you think, “Yep, that’s exactly what my friends would do.”
No GPS required.
(Though if you do feel inspired to plan your own road trip afterward… we won’t stop you.)
Newfoundland is a place that stays with you.
And so is a great story.
Luckily, this summer, you get both.
The Beaver Club plays on the Lighthouse Theatre stage in Port Dover from May 27 to June 13 and at Roselawn Theatre in Port Colborne from June 17 to 28. For tickets, click the link below or call the box office at 888-779-7703.
