What Vancouver Civic Theatres is

Vancouver Civic Theatres (VCT) is the City of Vancouver’s network of downtown performance venues: the Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, and the Annex. Together they host touring Broadway, opera, classical and contemporary music, dance, comedy, film, talks, and community events.

Venues at a glance

The Orpheum is a restored 1927 movie palace and the home hall of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre anchors large touring productions and Vancouver Opera and Ballet BC. The Playhouse serves chamber music, dance, and spoken word. The Annex is a flexible cabaret-style room with retractable seating suited to new music, dance, and mixed-format shows.

Tickets and box office

VCT is primarily a rental operation. For each event, the official ticket seller is set by the presenter; the theatre box office opens pre-show for that event only. The safer way to buy is to start from the event listing on the VCT site, which links to the authorized seller for that performance.

Audience experience

All venues emphasize clear sightlines and concise pre-visit details: door times, late seating notes, accessibility, and venue maps. Food and beverage service is available on show nights; mobile ordering may be offered at select performances. For busy evenings, plan early arrival for security, will-call, and concessions.

Planning tips

Use the VCT events page to filter by venue and date. For family or accessibility needs, review each hall’s seating and elevator notes before purchase. For high-demand tours, check the official seller link rather than search-engine ads to avoid resellers. If you are driving, verify nearby parking rules before showtime; transit connections to downtown are frequent.

For renters and producers

Each venue provides technical specifications, seating plans, and approved ticketing and marketing guidelines. The network supports everything from orchestral setups and opera to conferences, festivals, and community programming.

Heritage and place

The Orpheum is a nationally recognized historic concert hall, and the theatres operate on the unceded traditional territories of local First Nations. Preservation, community access, and artist services sit alongside commercial touring as core priorities.

Bottom line

If you want a single, reliable hub for Vancouver’s major indoor stages—from blockbuster tours to local ensembles—VCT’s four-venue network is the most direct route to confirmed dates, official tickets, and practical visit information.