Named after it’s most famous attendee, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre was constructed in 1959, and to this day is the largest proscenium theatre in BC, followed by the Orpheum.

While the Queen Elizabeth Theatre is known for holding Opera, Musical and Broadway performances, it is also home to a local art gallery to give new artists a place to shine and enter the world of art.

(flickr / Jeff Hitchcock)

The venue was originally built to take part in a design contest open internationally, and wound up becoming a prototype and guide for the future generation of theatres across both Canada and the U.S.

The look and feel of the Queen E. Theatre is truly a sight to behold, it almost feels like two separate worlds when looking at the main atrium and actual stage side by side. The modernity of the atrium is bold and eye catching, with its geometric style and curtain wall made up of aluminum and glass, encasing the lobby exterior in way that calls you in. The addition of the feature wall makes you think there’s something borderline magical inside, but it’s safely encased in a glass cover. In terms of what the theatre has to offer, I think it’s safe to say that magical is a pretty good way to put it.

The main showroom is a sight to behold, stepping away from the cool tones you can find in the atrium and into the warm tones enveloping the entirety of the massive theatre can be a bit shocking on your first visit. If I were to describe it, it’s like stepping into the past.

Even with its conflicting styles, it finds a way to remain effortlessly elegant. When you step inside, you instantly know the place is important. I’d go as far as to say it comes across as a government building of sorts, specifically the older ones, except it’s much nicer to be in.

The impact the theatre had on Vancouver was instantaneous, suddenly bigger musicals had a place within the city to shine, allowing residents to enjoy a whole new world of entertainment through Broadway shows. This opened up a whole new world for shows primarily being held in the States, and it resulted in them branching out, eager to have a brand new audience resonate with their respective works.

As of today, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre is home to the Vancouver Opera and Ballet BC, while also hosting large concerts and other shows on tour of similar size.

If you’d like to learn more about what’s up and coming at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, you can do so here!
https://vancouvercivictheatres.com/Search/Venues/Queen%20Elizabeth%20Theatre