Really great theatre with tons of character. Beautiful interior design, well maintained facilities, and a wonderful group of helpful and friendly staff. They host a wide variety of shows here, so definitely worth checking back regularly to see what's on the docket. We saw Kuroko and it was a a real treat! They have a bar inside. Only downside is the chairs are quite uncomfortable and squeaky, but I guess that's part of the theatres character. read more

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This is a great local theatre. I love that it's in a heritage building. Also, the theatre has velvet plush seats on the ground and in the balcony. I love any theatre that preserves the historical feel of Vancouver. If you arrive early, you can sit in the lounge where you can buy beer, wine, cocktails, other drinks & snacks while you wait. You can also look at the art on the walls. It's a very comfortable creative environment. The lounge added just as much to the experience as the stunning show, "Josephine" did. read more

The Cultch - The Cultch lounge - Performing Arts Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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What a fabulous, little theater, hidden in plain sight in this old-time residential area. I never even knew this place existed, nor did my kid who attended high school just a few blocks away! We recently came here to see a show and, while we weren't crazy about the performance per se, we all loved this venue! There is a small parking lot with a few stalls for disabled parking but, other than that, you have to find street parking (which we did, easily. And no charge, too! No meters. Bonus!). The building itself is on a corner and there are lights strung over the entrance on trees, giving the brick and stone building a lovely, nostalgic and welcoming vibe. Inside there's a room where they serve drinks and snacks (super nice bartenders, and super cocktails, too! VERY decent happy hour pricing on some drinks as well - and if you pre-order your drinks before the show, they'll charge you HH pricing and have your drink ready for you at intermission. Great system and great pricing!). This large room where you can order your food and drinks only has a few tables to sit at, though, despite the room being large enough to accommodate more. I thought that odd (many people were standing as they ate and drank). Another "lounge" room opened up 30 minutes after we arrived and a lady announced that we could take our food and drinks to this other room. We went to check it out. This lounge had more seating and more of a "sit back and relax" kind of feel to it, with picturesque windows (I think they may have been stained glass, or painted), more regular windows facing Venebles, more comfortable seats, and warm panelling on the walls. More of a "gentleman's club" lounge feel in this room. The lady-announcer proclaimed that we all could be seated in the theater whenever we wanted, it was now open, and we could bring all our food and drinks with us into the theater. Nice! My kids and I really liked the theater room. It was small yet super comfortable, with plush and wider-than-average seats. The seating rows were all staggered in a way that no view of the stage was obstructed. Furthermore, there is balcony seating wrapped all the way around the theater on high, on three sides of the stage (left, right and in front). MORE than ample seating for most shows, really. And the acoustics and lighting were terrific. Staff here are helpful and friendly, and there are lots of brochures and pamphlets in kiosks around, about the theater itself and upcoming performances and other artsy events in the city. Super venue, here! I look forward to returning. read more

Dealing with them in person and online, they were very professional, prompt and courteous. Would I go there again. Yes. read more

The Cultch is so small and intimate, it truly has no bad seats in the theater. We sat in the balcony seats, but yet we were still less than 30 feet away from the stage. The Cultch also gets bonus stars for bringing Nina Arsenault's gripping one-woman show, The Silicone Diaries to Vancouver. This narrative is a stunning look of one woman's transformation of her body and using it as living art. I can easily say that I would love to see another show at The Cultch. read more

Love how it's a heritage building! The Cultch is hidden in a residential area. The theatre has plush, red seats which were comfortable. It's a small theatre that it feels very intimate, and you'd feel like you're a part of the act even though you have balcony seatings. The cafe was a bit crowded and unorganized, which caused a lot of budging for the lined-up customers. The show I saw was "Blind Date"--- very hilarious and so much fun to see! I am confident that The Cultch would only produce top notch productions, and I don't hesitate in recommending it to those who aren't so sure if they want to go. Go! Support the arts!!! read more

I had an incredible time here. Even though I had crappy nosebleed seats, the size of this venue means that no matter how crappy your seat is, you'll still have a fairly good view of the stage. I appreciated that. My ticket was $15 and I saw an incredible play in a beautiful building. The whole experience was A+. I can't wait to return to the Cultch again and again. read more

A delightful space in Vancouver to watch both local and touring theatre performances. This renovated church has been a bastion of culture in the neighbourhood I grew up in since I was a kid, but it is only as an adult that I have fully grown to appreciate the space fully. There a few places in Vancouver my butt would rather be than plunked down in one of the red velvet chairs, watching some indie theatre. Case in point - a recent performance of "Agokwe:Gay Love on the Rez" was a truly awe inspiring experience. I will be back soon! read more

I came here last week to see Sunya, and I had completely forgotten that I'd been there almost ten years earlier! I've now been here as an audience member AND as a performer. Good times! I love this venue. It has so much character, and it's such a beautiful little building. Not that this is relevant to most people, but if you're tap dancing on the stage, you don't get the best acoustics. For everything else, however, it's delightful and adorable. The stage is on the floor and isn't raised, but the entire house is raked with a great balcony. Every seat has an excellent view of the stage, and you can take your pick of sitting right in front of the performers or farther back. Choose your own adventure! Some truly incredible performances come through this theatre, and it's a great local staple. If you're looking for a great way to spend an evening, you should absolutely check this place out. read more

so I bought some tickets to a random show here and had no idea what to expect. This place is about 5 minutes from the Commercial Broadway skytrain, so I expected it to be a dump. Boy was I wrong....very nicely finished place - actually worthwhile for a date spot. They have 2 bar areas (fully stocked) and a nicely furnished / spacious theatre... overall a great venue to enjoy the arts...go early and enjoy the experience. read more

I went with my parents to watch The Festival d'été francophone de Vancouver's "Le destin du Jazz Club!" We really enjoyed the show and if we lived in Vancouver, we would definitely be coming to The Cultch more often. Parking is a bit tricky, so read those streets signs. I like how they have happy hour before the show, free wifi, and a lounge area. You can also take your drink inside to watch the show and there was a lot more seating than I expected! It was a great, fun experience and you can even meet the performers after the show. Everyone is friendly too. read more

The Cultch - The stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I just saw Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf here ... my frist time with the newly renovated theatre. It is a gorgeous smallish, very intimate, space, albeit with some problems with rails blocking the view in the balcony. Very solid production- the guy playing George was *terrific*- a very strong actor. The centre has a couple little design weaknesses- same booth for purchases and will call, for example, necessitating a long line in the cold, but overall, it's a beautiful space with a friendly crew. I'll be back, for sure. read more

We had such a great time at The Cultch! The box office is outside so watch out you don't miss it! We picked up our tickets and hustled our way into the theatre with a few minutes to spare before seeing Fish Eyes (sooo goood!) The building is a masterpiece and the theatre is absolutely beautiful. We were in the "cheap seats," but the layout of this space means there isn't a bad seat in the house; we had a perfect view of the stage the whole time. It's a very small theatre with a small stage, which was perfect for this show. I've also seen Waiting for Godot here, and although that's a much more expansive show the stage never felt cramped. We went to grab a drink at intermission and the bar area is quite large with a few tables to sit at, or lean against. The bartender was very busy but still cheerful, and patient when we weren't sure what we wanted. The drinks are quite expensive, so do be prepared for that! It's a little confusing as there are two bar areas, but the flow of people towards the larger of the two made it easy to work out which was open. The other looks more loungey and intimate with dim lighting and candles on the tables. I love that The Cultch exists and that they have taken such clear care with the space. It's really gorgeous and always a treat to visit! Coming from England I miss easy access to theatre, and having such a great one in my neighbourhood is wonderful! read more

This place goes back a long way with me. It has been updated and renovated over the years. Cozy Eastside theater. Located minutes from commercial Drive area. Great for small independent events and plays. And even sponsoring some larger named Jazz at times read more

My husband is fan of (pretty much) all things British. And Charles Dickens is close to the top of his Anglophilic list. So, when I found out The Cultch was putting on "Dickens' Women," a one-woman starring the quite British Miriam Margolyes, the very weekend we were visiting Vancouver, I was on it like clotted cream on a scone. The Cultch could not be easier to get to from downtown Vancouver: Georgia Street becomes the Georgia Viaduct becomes Prior Street becomes Venables Street, where the Cultch is located. The Google Maps directions I'd printed out in advance -- suspecting (correctly) the GPS on our phones would not work in Canada -- estimated the trip from our hotel on Robson Street to the Cultch would take 11 minutes. I don't think it was even that long. Finding parking was a whole other story. We got there -- in the dark and the rain -- only to find the blocks in the immediate vicinity of The Cultch are mostly restricted (i.e. resident) parking. However, we quickly learned if you persevere and aren't afraid to walk a block or two, there is ample street parking available not too far away. Once inside, we spent some time warming up and enjoying the theatre's small café. We then made our way to our seats. I found out about the play -- and, thus, bought our tickets -- just a few days before the performance. The show was, understandably, very popular and when I went to get the tickets, the only seats available together were restricted view. We decided to take a chance on these, and, for the most part, they worked out just fine. We were in the back row of the balcony, but, it is a very intimate performance space, so we did not feel too far away. We saw 90% of the play with no problem. A couple of times, though, when Ms. Margolyes was at the very right of the stage, she was sort of beneath us and our view was not so great. But, considering we went into this with full knowledge of this possibility and had paid just $15/ticket, we really could not complain. AND, when this happened, we just sat back, closed our eyes, and drank in Ms. Margolyes' brilliant oration/interpretation of Mr. Dickens' work. I am very happy to have found The Cultch, a lovely performance space that, clearly finds some top-notch, off-the-beaten-path shows to stage. I'll definitely be checking out what is playing there when I am back in Vancouver. read more

Best place in Vancouver for local art, fringe, theatre, dance, etc.

The Vancouver East Cultural Centre is a beautiful venue at the corner of Venables and Victoria, more commonly known as The Cultch. The building is a convert Methodist church, so it retains an ethereal essence that blends perfectly with the balconies and red velvet seats of the main theater. I've only seen one show here, but the programs generally include kids, adult, and even puppet shows. A slightly cheaper alternative to the Arts Club, plus i prefer the more eclectic line-up of productions. read more

Support live theatre! Good prices, great shows, not a bad seat in the house, and a huge sense of culture and community - you'll always feel at home. Can't go wrong supporting good live theatre and local actors & artists! read more

I had a phenomenal time at The Cultch watching Mies Julie. It's such a beautiful venue, in a nice accessible neighbourhood. I just couldn't believe it took me this long to finally go to a show there. We had great seats, at a good price - and I am just looking forward to the next time I get to attend a show there! read more

We saw Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' here in January. It was my first theatre visit in Vancouver, and I wasn't sure what to expect, as it doesn't seem to be a very widely visited venue. It was actually quite big - bigger than a normal studio setting, but still incredibly intimate. I was worried when we booked our tickets, as they were right on the side, but the seating is great whereever you are in the Cultch, and through the great setting and amazing acting, I felt completely involved in the performance. As with most theatres the food and drink is ridiculously expensive - I think we spent more at the interval than we did on the tickets, although they did have a good variety of snacks and drinks. I saw that they also had a cute restaurant with great decor, although I can't comment on the food as I didn't try it. read more

We have attended several performances at the Cultch, all very good. The most recent show was Obaaberima. It was powerful and moving. As many have already pointed out, it is a historic building, the theatre itself is intimate and not a bad seat in the house. We have always found the staff to be friendly and helpful. You feel good spending your money there. Also, the productions are usually not over-hyped "Broadway" type shows. It is so good to see this other side of performance arts in Vancouver. We recommend it highly! read more

A beautiful theater, lits of space for entertainment and a nice little house bar to boot! Too bad they decided to close the wine bar before the play, seemed kind of silly not to let patrons enjoy some bevvies before the shows! A beautiful landmark in the Vancouver arts scene, you should make a point to see a play here at least once! read more

Oh frabjos day! The Cultch's offering of Jabberwocky, at its York theatre venue, is a creative puzzle and delight. As is its venue. It was all the reviews had warned me to expect: adult person/rabbit puppets, and a crazy compilation of scenic, sound, and comedic effects. And, yes, it did make sense of Lewis Carroll's nonsensical. It is an honour to visit the restored and redesigned York; cultural history shaped to modern function. But yes, there is a "but". Walking up Commercial with my dogs after the show, I made sense of the twinges of resentment I felt during the performance. A gender-neutral drama, skewed to the masculine. Three male bunnies who permeate ovum, emulate Dad, and venture on the Jabberwocky quest; one female, who largely comforts her babe and irons hubby's shirts. Overall, the gyre and gimble we can, thankfully, count on the Cultch to deliver. read more

I adore this theatre! Incredible, diverse, socially conscious programming that prioritizes beautiful storytelling and accessibility. Season subscriptions are affordable, and the various theatre spaces are lovely, especially the Historic Theatre. Super friendly service and volunteers too! Can't recommend The Cultch enough. read more

This is your somewhat no frills neighborhood theater and requires all the support it can get. The venue is not main stream and is at the north end of commercial drive. You need a combo of Sky Train + Bus or a good 10-15 walk to get here. There are actually two performance stages here the heritage and the somewhat new venue. The heritage has more capacity and but is intimate nonetheless. The newer place is smaller but has really good acoustics. The size of the venue is a boon for smaller performing companies as they can rent it out for less. Most of the shows run for a week max and there are a lot of one day events. During my short stint in Vancouver I saw 10-15 performances here so there are a lot of shows to go by. Agreed the performances can be hit or miss but you are paying a reasonable price. There are two areas for drinking/dining The Cafe and the newer wine bar area. I will surely check out "The Cultch" as its called whenever I am in town. read more

A lovely and intimate theatre. I wouldn't say there is a bad seat in the house. Everyone has a great view, even the balcony seats. Only downside to the arrangement is if you are in the balcony, and the person in the row behind you isn't careful with their legs, you might get kicked in the head. It was my first visit to The Cultch. It was much smaller than I'd anticipated, but in the theatre world, this isn't a bad thing. The production we saw wasn't the greatest, but that isn't the theatre's fault. I'm eager to return to The Cultch for other offerings in the future. read more

Saw The Rivals here and the acting was superb. I've never been here before and really like the set up. It's a small and cosy theatre located in a residential area. Quite deceptive from the outside, looks quite small but opens up in the back. read more

If you've never seen a show at The Cultch before you're in for a treat. Newly renovated, they've managed to retain the feel of an authentic opera house. We went for Dan Mangan's CD release party last night which was a sold out show. The lobby is bright, fresh and hopefully they'll start getting local artists to display their pieces on the white walls. We headed to the bar and ordered a couple of ciders. The bartender asked if we wanted to pre-order our intermission drinks to avoid the line-up. HUH?! How does that work? Well, you order your drinks, they write it down on a card with your name and when you come out at the break the drinks are lined up on the ledge along one side of the lobby. Well, what is someone steals our drink? The bartender assured us that in all her years of working there she'd only encountered one problem when someone mistakenly took the wrong drink. Alright - sign us up!! My friend is in love with Dan Mangan so we sat in the second row. This is only advisable if you're a hardcore fan with a good back. The few front rows have more basic seats which are cushioned but we still felt a bit achy by the end of the show. The acoustics and the sense of really being part of the show made up for that. Further back the seats looked plusher and up in the balcony they've re-sprung the original seats. Thick, black velvet curtains are the stage back-drop while the seats are cushioned with red velvet. The ornate golden railing of the balcony has been preserved making this theatre a jewel. Check out their schedule and get yourself some culture! read more