Live theatre is a treat for all ages and your kids don’t need to grow up before they can start attending! Metro Vancouver has a wealth of options for a wonderful family night out. Some are relatively inexpensive and tickets to a special event like these make a wonderful gift. From local theatre to travelling Broadway productions and ballet to live symphony, keep reading to find something for your family.
The ACT Arts Centre
The ACT Arts Centre, open since 2003, provides excellence in arts programs, gallery exhibitions and performing arts presentations, along with being home to many cultural and community events, reaching over 70,000 patrons annually. The award-winning ACT Presents Season offers 30-50 performances each season. These presentations attract close to 10,000 patrons annually, while the ACT Art Gallery sees over 7,000 guests.
Address: 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
Website: theactmapleridge.org
Arts Club Theatre
Each year, over a quarter of a million people, experience the best in professional theatre at its three venues: the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Granville Island Stage, and Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. Its popular productions range from musicals and contemporary comedies to new works and classics.
Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Address: 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver
Where: Granville Island Stage
Address: 1585 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Where: BMO Theatre Centre
Address: 162 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Website: artsclub.com
Ballet BC
Ballet BC is an internationally acclaimed collaborative and creation-based contemporary ballet company that is a leader and resource in the creation, production and education of contemporary dance in Canada. Bold and innovative, the Company’s distinctive style and approach have made a unique and valuable national contribution to the development of dance.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Address: 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Website: balletbc.com
Bard on the Beach
Bard on the Beach is Western Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare Festival. Presented in Vancouver’s Sen̓ákw/Vanier Park against a spectacular backdrop of mountains, sea and sky, the Festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas and special events in two modern performance tents from June through September, with an average attendance of 100,000. The Festival is known for its signature blend of high-quality artistic programming and a welcoming, informal experience for local residents and visitors from around the world.
Where: Vanier Park
Address: 1695 Whyte Avenue, Vancouver
Website: bardonthebeach.org
Broadway Across Canada
Broadway Across Canada is a theatre company that brings the best of Broadway to our city. Every year they come to Calgary with a variety of the hottest shows on the Broadway scene. While many of these shows are designed for an adult audience, there are usually some shows every year to delight the children in your family.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Address: 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Website: vancouver.broadway.com
Carousel Theatre for Young People
Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTYP) is a gathering place for young people, families and artists to embark on a journey where boundless imagination, a dash of magic and an abundance of play are the recipe for a magical theatrical adventure that has a lasting impact. CTYP has been creating theatre for young people since their inception in 1976. They stage vibrant stories that engage young people from the beginning of their development, and which challenge them through their formative years, empowering them to become agents of positive change.
Where: Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island
Address: 1411 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
Website: www.carouseltheatre.ca
Gateway Theatre
Gateway’s professional theatre performances (taking place on the MainStage or in Studio B) feature award-winning plays that are inclusive and artistically noteworthy, bringing stories from across Canada and around the world to Lower Mainland audiences. In recent years, Gateway Theatre has collaborated with companies such as Western Canada Theatre, Pi Theatre, ITSAZOO, Ruby Slippers Theatre, Vertigo Theatre and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Building on a tradition of artistic residencies in the venue, in 2021, Gateway launched a Company in Residence pilot program, welcoming New(to)Town Collective as the inaugural company.
Address: 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond
Website: gatewaytheatre.com
Theatre Under the Stars
Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is a not-for-profit society that entertains families through popular musical theatre shows while providing a vibrant outlet and training ground to develop amateur performers and technicians both young and old. TUTS values an atmosphere of inclusion and mentorship in order to build strong character and promote positive values.
Where: Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park
Address: 610 Pipeline Road, Stanley Park
Website: tuts.ca
Vancouver Opera
Vancouver Opera is the second-largest opera company in Canada. It is regarded worldwide for its fine mainstage productions; for its country-leading education programs, which have reached more than 1.6 million children and their families in more than 40 years; for its innovative and award-winning community programs; and for forging groundbreaking cross-cultural creative partnerships that have brought opera to new generations of Canadians in recent history.
Where: Vancouver Playhouse Theatre
Address: 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Website: www.vancouveropera.ca
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1919, the Grammy and Juno-award-winning Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is the third largest orchestra in Canada, the largest arts organization in Western Canada, and one of the few orchestras in the world to have its own music school. The VSO hosts Kids Koncerts three or four times each season. The hour-long performances offer exceptional music delivered in a kid-friendly environment.
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Address: 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver
Website: www.vancouversymphony.ca
