10 Best Theatres in Vancouver

The Orpheum is a historic theater and music venue in downtown that forms part of the Vancouver Civic Theatres. Famed for its appearance in many television series, the theater opened in 1927 as a Vaudeville house, and was the second to bear the name "Orpheum." The original "Old Orpheum" was renamed twice before being demolished in 1969. After the end of Vaudeville in the 1930s, the Orpheum became a movie house. It closed in 1975 for renovations and had a new grand opening in 1977. Since then, it has been the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Since 1979, it has been a designated National Historic Site of Canada. It has appeared in "Battlestar Galactica," "Highlander," and "Fringe."

The Cultch Historic Theatre is perched on a hill overlooking the heart of the city and is among the most diverse performance spaces in Vancouver, offering music, theater, and dance. The theater is housed in a formerly abandoned church, which today is considered a local and national treasure. If you're looking to enjoy community theater in a gorgeous, welcoming space with wonderful vibes, the Cultch is a great place to catch a show. Here you can see everything from children's plays like Alice in Wonderland to more adult performances from the hottest local, national, and international indie playwrights.

You can buy tickets to individual shows or purchase packages for several performances. It's just 10 minutes south of downtown.

The Queen Elizabeth Theatre is a performing arts venue that along with 2 other theaters forms the Vancouver Civic Theatres, and offers opera, ballet, and other live performances. The theater was the former home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, but now is the home of the Vancouver Opera and Ballet BC troupes. It also hosts a wide range of musical events all year long and is known for its dual venues: the main auditorium that seats 2,765 people and a smaller Playhouse Theatre that can seat up to 668.

It's also famed for its gigantic stage that stands 70 feet wide and 40 feet deep. It's right in the heart of downtown.

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts is on the campus of the University of British Columbia and offers no fewer than four musical performance venues for a variety of shows. The venues include the Chan Shun Concert Hall seating 1,200; the Telus Studio Theatre with flexible seating; the Royal Bank Cinema with 160 seats, and the Great Performers Lounge for conservatory-style events. In addition to a wide range of entertainment events, the center hosts classes and performances for and by the music, film, and theater departments of the university, some of which are open to the public.

This theater boasts a diverse performing arts season every year that brings audiences from all over. It's 20 minutes south of downtown.

Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage is a historic landmark theater and former cinema in the heart of downtown that hosts the Arts Club Theatre Company, offering live theatrical shows. You can catch performances here in a variety of styles, from classics to Broadway musicals and new, large-scale productions. Just a few of the famed shows this company has produced over the years include Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast, White Christmas, Funny Girl, and My Fair Lady, among others.

The theater has been operating as a live performance venue since 1998 and has become a staple of the local scene. It seats 650 people and the building itself is a historic landmark that was built in 1930.

The Rio Theatre is an independent art-house and multidisciplinary event venue that has been in operation since 1938, offering movies, live music, and other performance art shows. It seats 420 people and includes a balcony section. The projection room is capable of showing vintage 35-millimeter prints as well as 3D digital projections. The lobby and concession were twice awarded best for single-screen theaters. It boasts a large stage and a green room for visiting performers.

The theater has showcased major Hollywood releases, independent films, cult films at midnight screenings, and live performances of comedy shows, burlesque shows, and even religious events. It's just a 12 minute drive from the heart of downtown Vancouver.

The Vogue Theatre is a historic cinema and performance venue situated along the city's Theatre Row, offering comedy, live music, dance, plays, and film events. Over the years, it has played host to the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the Vancouver ComedyFest, and Vancouver International Film Festival. A few of the major comedy acts that have come through include Tig Notaro, Deon Cole, and Jimmy Yang, among others.

The building is a National Historic Site of Canada, known for its Art Deco Moderne architecture. It is considered a heritage "A" building and features symmetrical facades, textured panels, and wrought-iron screens. It's famed for its exterior neon sign topped by the Roman Goddess Diana. It's in the heart of downtown.

The Vancouver Playhouse is one of four facilities that make up the Vancouver Civic Theatres Department and offers showcases by many local arts organizations. This 668-seat theater is a wonderful place to come to see smaller shows by local groups such as the Vancouver Recital Society, the Friends of Chamber Music, and the DanceHouse performance group. Here you'll have the opportunity to catch wonderful shows by highly talented performers on a smaller, more intimate scale than you'll get at some of the other local venues, but still in a welcoming, upscale space.

The Vancouver Playhouse offers a cozy atmosphere and hosts regular dance, theater, and film showcases. It's located right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

Firehall Arts Centre is a performing arts venue in Vancouver's downtown eastside bordering the Gastown neighborhood, offering performance art, dance, and new independent plays. The building is a former fire station built in 1906 and is the foremost venue in Vancouver for experimental theater. It boasts a 150-seat capacity and houses more than 200 performances every year in eclectic, dance, and interdisciplinary arts. It also hosts an annual Dancing on the Edge dance festival that spans 2 weeks.

If you enjoy intimate performances by young, up-and-coming playwrights and experimental directors, Firehall Arts Centre is right in your wheelhouse. It's the home of 3 distinct theater companies: Axis Mime, Touchstone Theatre, and its own Firehall Theatre Company.

The Improv Centre in downtown is among the leading venues for improvisational comedy shows and theater sports, offering raucous and madcap professional improv comedy since 1981. The Centre hosts the Vancouver Improv Centre Society and promotes, maintains, and showcases improvisational presentations to locals and visitors alike. The theater seats up to 186 people and draws over 60,000 visitors every year to enjoy its productions. If you have seen the show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", you've seen the kinds of theater sports on display here.

In addition, the theater houses a bar and lounge as well as a boardwalk patio that overlooks Granville Island and Marina. Snacks and drinks can be brought into the theater to enjoy during the show.