Network

Howard Beale, a veteran news anchor who, after being fired for low ratings, has a public breakdown on live television. His angry, ranting broadcast unexpectedly becomes a huge ratings success, transforming him into a populist prophet and the network into a ratings powerhouse. The formidable Diana and her team of producers foresee the future and intend to seize power-at any cost. The play satirizes the corrupting influence of media conglomerates, where profit margins dictate content and the lines between news and entertainment blur. The satirical 1976 film by Paddy Chayefsky dominated the Academy Awards and was a prophetic masterpiece. Nearly 50 years later, this new, acclaimed stage adaptation remains a potent and provocative work of art as the world grapples with truth, authenticity, and the search for meaning in a digital age.

Dates: March 20 – April 12, 2026
Times: Thurs-Fri at 8:00 pm, first & third Saturdays at 8 pm, second and fourth Saturdays at 2 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm, closing on April 13
Preview: March 19 ($20.00)
Opening: March 20
Talkbacks: Thursday, March 26 and Sunday, March 29
Matinées: All Sundays (Mar 22, 29; Apr 5, 12), two Saturdays (Mar 28; Apr 11)

Content warnings: NETWORK contains adult themes, including discussion of suicide, vulgar language, swearing, depictions of a sexual nature and the sound of gunshot. There are no guns in the show. There are flashing images. Not suitable for persons under 16. Audience discretion is advised.

For the best availability, we encourage season ticket holders to make their reservations online.

If a show appears to be sold out, please email patronservices@unitedplayers.com as tickets often become available through cancellations.

RESTAURANT SPONSOR: Show your email reservation confirmation for a 15% DISCOUNT on food (on day of performance) at Nuba Taverna.
Valid for Kitsilano location only: 604-336-1797 • 3116 W Broadway, Vancouver BC • www.nuba.ca

The Playwright: Lee Hall

Lee Hall is a renowned English playwright, screenwriter, and lyricist, best known for his work on the critically acclaimed stage musical Billy Elliot and the film adaptation. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Hall’s early career included a strong focus on radio dramas before he expanded into theatre and film. His writing often explores themes of social class, community, and personal aspiration, which has resonated with audiences worldwide.

He has received numerous awards including a Tony Award, an Olivier Award, and an Academy Award nomination for his distinct and impactful works. Beyond Billy Elliot, Hall’s notable works include The Pitmen Painters (produced by United Players in 2014), War Horse (adapted for the stage), and the screenplay for Rocketman, the biographical musical film about Elton John. His stage adaptation of the film Shakespeare in Love, written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, opened in London in July 2014 and played in the 2016 Stratford (Ontario, Canada) Festival season. 

Hall adapted Network from the 1976 film of the same name, which had an Academy Award–winning screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky and was directed by Sidney Lumet. The play premiered in the Lyttleton Theatre at the National Theatre in London on 13 November 2017 (following previews from 4 November) and ran until 24 March 2018.

The Director: Kathleen Duborg

Kathleen Duborg is an award-winning actor and director who is passionate about mentoring artists who are intent on expanding their skills and stretching their craft. She holds a BFA in Acting and an MFA in Directing and is presently an adjunct professor of acting and directing at the University of British Columbia. She is particularly interested in embodied performance and finding ease and connectedness in the multiplicity of styles and mediums we’re asked to work in.  

Selected Film & TV Acting work: Happy Face, Percy Jackson, Nancy Drew, The Good Doctor, The Killing, Breeders, The Last Mimzy, A Brush With Love. Various voice over roles.

Stage credits include: Romeo and Juliet, Einstein’s Gift, The Gift of the Coat, Life Skills, as well as new play development throughout the country.

Selected Directing work: Network (upcoming), An Iliad, The Moors, Jerusalem, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Tales From Ovid, Concord Floral, The Beaux’ Stratagem, The Seagull, Mrs. Singh and Me  (Pick of the Fringe) and the plays Iceland (Jessie nomination, Best Director), Greenland, Faroe Islands and Ostrich (world premiere).

As a producer, she is co-artistic director of Dirt Road Theatre and many moons ago she created ReelFast: The 48-Hour Movie Making Festival and The Cold Reading Series which endeavoured to connect writers and actors of the film and theatre communities.