Established in 1993, the CRS is Vancouver’s original live script reading event. For over three decades, the CRS is the place for Vancouver’s artists to meet, share their work, and create more.

Every second Monday night of the month (third Monday Oct./Nov.) writers, actors, directors, producers and audience members come together at the VFS Cafe 390 East Hasting St. in Vancouver, for an exciting evening of brand new work.

The CRS is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization. All donations collected go directly back into the community to fund artist-support initiatives. Past initiatives include, the Keith Provost Award, the Win a Story Editor for the Summer Contest, artists’ rent awards, and production costs for independent plays and films.

Community Initiatives

Since the inception of the CRS, we have committed to inspire and support Vancouver’s creative community of storytellers. The CRS has undertaken a number of different initiatives over the years to fulfill that mission. Here are some examples of the CRS’s proud achievements.

The Keith Provost Memorial Award

The Keith Provost Award is a cash prize given annually to a Cold Reading Series artist who shares qualities we remember and loved about Keith: generosity of spirit, commitment, and joy.

Due to the upheaval of Covid-19, we suspended the award & carrying through to 2024. Please contact us with your nominations and include a supporting paragraph or two about why your nominee is a deserving candidate for the Keith Provost Memorial Award. The award is handed out at the November event.

Past recipients of the Keith Provost Memorial Award are:

2019: Angelo Renai

2015: Colette Nichol, Stephanie Halber, Brigitte Drescher
2014: Janet Glassford
2013 Shauna Johannasen
2012: Michelle Muldoon
2011: Deb Sears and John Prowse
2010: Krystal Vrba
2008: Blaine Anderson, Alex Essoe
2007: David Lewis, Garry Chalk, Jessica Brajoux, Sabrina Karine
2006: Lorraine Mochrie
2005 Justine Warrington
2004: Kyle Labine, acting.
Tahina Awan, Tara Burnett, Cynnamon Schreinert & Shelley MacDonald, front of house. Sarah Mitchell, Writing.
2003: Rick Dobran, writing, acting
2002: Paul Ingraham, writing
2001: Kennedy Goodkey, writing

Other Past Initiatives:

Out On Screen: Queer Film and Video Festival CineCity-Out On Screen Script Competition

On August 8, 2005 the Cold Reading Series proudly presented live script readings of the three winning screenplays in Out On Screen’s CineCity script competition. The winning screenplay received $5,000 in development funds from CityTV’s CineCity initiative.

CityTV’s CineCity: Vancouver’s Stories

On October 20, 2005 the Cold Reading Series partnered with CityTV to present live readings of brand new short film scripts by winning writers from CineCity: Vancouver’s Stories. This was an initiative to help emerging visible minority and Aboriginal filmmakers to produce short, dramatic films in British Columbia. A live reading at the CRS was part of the script development process, which culminated in a live broadcast of the finished films on CityTV. The CRS was thrilled to be part of such an exciting and important initiative.