Big Stuff at the Olympic Village Stage: A Funny, Tender Show About Grief and the Things We Keep (Review)

By Alex, ActiveVancouver.ca

Main photo: Matt Baram and Naomi Sniekus in Big Stuff, 2025; photography by Dahlia Katz

It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and it makes you think

I went to opening night of Big Stuff at the Olympic Village Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre, the Arts Club Theatre Company’s most intimate venue, and I walked out with a lump in my throat and a smile I couldn’t quite shake. Two performers, one small stage, and a question that sounds simple until you try to answer it: what do we do with the stuff our loved ones leave behind?

An Intimate Room, Two Performers

The Olympic Village Stage is small enough that watching a show here feels like hanging out with a group of friends. There is no distance between you and the stage, and Big Stuff uses that to its full advantage. There are only two actors, married comedy duo Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus, and they carry the entire evening on chemistry, quick wit, and a lot of heart.

They carry the entire evening on chemistry, quick wit, and a lot of heart.

How the Show Works (No Spoilers)

This is not a show you simply sit and watch. When you arrive, you are handed a pencil and a piece of paper and invited to write down your favourite item in your house. Those notes go into the show.

Partway through, the actors pull random pieces of paper and talk directly to the person who wrote them. Because the show is built on improvised storytelling, it also means no two nights should be the same. I won’t spoil what happens once a note is read, but I will say that it turns a room full of strangers into a room full of people who are sharing something. It is funny, it is surprising, and it gets personal faster than you expect.

The Cast and Creators

Baram and Snieckus wrote and co-created the show, and they play versions of themselves. Their setup is easy to relate to: she wants to keep everything, and he wants to throw it all away. Their improv skills, sharpened at Second City and in comedy clubs around the world, keep the banter fast, and the director and co-creator, Kat Sandler, keeps the whole thing moving.

She wants to keep everything, and he wants to throw it all away.

The show arrives in Vancouver after a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it won the International Fringe Encore Series Edinburgh Prize. The Globe and Mail called it the kind of theatre that stays with you for life, and after opening night I understand why.

A Show About Loss and Grief

Underneath the laughter, Big Stuff is about loss and grief, and it doesn’t pretend otherwise. The show lets both approaches be valid: holding on to every object because each one carries a memory, or letting things go and keeping the memories in your heart. By the end, I didn’t feel the show wanted me to pick a side. Everyone in the room will land somewhere different, depending on who and what they have lost.

The Arts Club clearly knows this too. There are posters with grief support resources on display in the theatre, which is a thoughtful touch for a show that can stir things up. In that spirit, we’ve put together some information for anyone who needs it.

Processing Grief: Some Gentle Starting Points

This is general information, not medical advice, and everyone grieves differently. A few ideas that grief support organizations commonly share:

• There is no timeline. Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and it can come in waves, including long after a loss.
• Say the name. Talking about the person you lost, or sharing stories about them, helps many people feel connected rather than alone.
• Use objects and rituals. As the show suggests, there is no single right way to handle someone’s belongings. Some people keep a few meaningful items, some keep everything, and some let go. It’s okay to take your time deciding.
• Find your people. Support groups, walking groups, and peer support can make grief feel less isolating.
• Ask for help when it feels stuck. If grief feels overwhelming, or is getting in the way of daily life for a long time, a counsellor or your family doctor can help.

Grief Support in British Columbia

These are free or low-cost services that serve Metro Vancouver and the rest of B.C. Hours and availability change, so check each website before you reach out.

Grief Support Lines and Groups

• BC Bereavement Helpline: A free, confidential, province-wide line staffed by trained volunteers who listen and connect you to grief support in your community. Call toll-free at 1-877-779-2223 or 604-738-9950 in Greater Vancouver. It can point you to support for specific losses, including loss to suicide, homicide, or substance use, as well as pet loss. Weekday hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Vancouver Hospice Society: Offers individual and family bereavement counselling, six-week bereavement support groups, and a bereavement walking group for people in Vancouver. Counselling includes up to six free sessions, though the waitlist has at times been paused, so check current availability. Find them on Google Maps.
• Lower Mainland Grief Recovery Society: Runs grief support and recovery programs in Vancouver throughout the year.

Online Grief Resources

• Canadian Virtual Hospice: Free articles, videos, and a service where you can send questions to a clinical team. It includes MyGrief.ca for adults, KidsGrief.ca for anyone supporting a grieving child, and YouthGrief.ca for teens.

If You Need Help Right Now

Who Is It For?

This is a show for adults and older teens who are comfortable with themes of loss, and it works especially well as a night out with a partner, a close friend, or a family member. The Arts Club’s content advisory notes flashing lights and water-based haze and fog effects, so keep that in mind if anyone in your group is sensitive to either. If you are unsure about suitability for younger viewers, contact the Arts Club box office.

Tickets and Dates

Big Stuff runs now through November 1, 2026, and you don’t want to miss it. After Vancouver, the production heads to the SoHo Playhouse in New York and then London. Tickets start from $29, with pricing varying by performance and seating section. Check current pricing and showtimes directly through Arts Club.

You can also see all the details on our Big Stuff event page.

Our Rating: 8/10

Big Stuff is funny, moving, and unlike most theatre you’ll see this year. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and it makes you think about the things in your own home, and the people attached to them. Go with someone you love, and bring a tissue.

Why We Love the Olympic Village Stage

The Olympic Village Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre is the perfect home for a show like this. It’s small, warm, and close, and it makes a night of theatre feel personal. If you’re looking for more to do, browse more theatre events in Vancouver, read our review of Heist at the Stanley, or see how Vancouver’s arts and culture venues compare.