9 Great Calgary Theatre Venues

We love live theatre, so we decided to do a round-up of our favourite venues in which to watch it. Big Secret Theatre Home to One Yellow Rabbit, one of Calgary’s most innovative and provocative theatre companies, the Big Secret is on the second level of the Epcor Centre. It…

We love live theatre, so we decided to do a round-up of our favourite venues in which to watch it.

Big Secret Theatre

Home to One Yellow Rabbit, one of Calgary’s most innovative and provocative theatre companies, the Big Secret is on the second level of the Epcor Centre. It can seat up to 245 people and boasts a cocktail bar inside the theatre. It’s often used for cabaret-style events, such as last year’s ATP’s The God That Comes, with tables scattered around the bar and in front of the back riser seating. (Epcor Centre)

Birds and Stones Theatre

One of Downstage‘s venues, Birds and Stones is a long, low-ceilinged space in the basement of the Unitarian Church of Calgary on 16th Avenue N.W. Seating 50, it’s ideal for intimate shows and its lower rental cost means it hosts emerging artists, including the Major Matt Mason Theatre Collective. (207 16 Ave. N.W.)

Engineered Air Theatre

With seating for 185, the Engineered Air is in the lower level of the Epcor Centre and faces 9th Avenue S.E. The eclectic interior boasts original pieces from the old Empress theatre, including wrought iron railings, mixed with ’80s-inspired graphic fabric panelling. The glass-walled and slate-tiled lobby is lovely for mingling. (Epcor Centre)

Lunchbox Theatre

Lunchbox Theatre moved into its new home at the base of the Calgary Tower in 2008. Designed by Bathory Associates Architecture + Design of Calgary and Proscenium Architecture + Interiors Inc. of Vancouver, the TransCanada stage has moveable seating that can be adjusted for each performance. It seats 150. (160, 115 9 Ave. S.E.)

Max Bell Theatre

The Max Bell’s elegantly grand space seats 750 people and is ideal for resident company Theatre Calgary’s big budget productions, including the company’s annual presentation of A Christmas Carol. It features wrap-around seating on three levels and multiple bars for intermission drinks. (Epcor Centre)

Pumphouse Theatre

Martha Cohen Theatre

Home to Alberta Theatre Projects since 1985, the 400-seat Martha Cohen features tiered seating that forms a three-quarter circle around the stage. This guarantees that almost every seat is a great seat. In fact, the furthest seat from the stage is only 39-feet away. (Epcor Centre)

Motel

Downstage’s second venue is the Epcor Centre’s most intimate. With seating for 60, the space is considered a “black-box” which means it can be transformed into a variety of seating and performance configurations. For example, Third Street Theatre’s 2013 production I Am My Own Wife placed audiences facing east towards a built set. (Epcor Centre)

Pumphouse Theatre

The historic Pumphouse – it pumped water to North Calgary until 1968 – offers two theatre venues that often host smaller and emerging companies and stellar community theatre productions. (Storybook Theatre has called it home since the ’80s.) The Victor Mitchell Theatre seats 315 and the smaller Joyce Doolittle seats 100. (2140 Pumphouse Ave. S.W.)

Vertigo Theatre Centre

Home to BD&P Mystery Theatre and Y Stage, the centre offers the elegant and plush 350-seat Playhouse and the smaller, adaptable Studio space where seating can be moved for each performance. The shared lobby and bar is at the bottom of a wide staircase, so actors can make a grand entrance following performances and the audience can mingle and enjoy a few cocktails. (161, 115 9 Ave. S.E.)

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