Theatre can tell a lot about a city, as it is inseparably connected to its culture, history, and the worldview of its residents. Whether you are looking for a play, opera, or something else, theatres have much to offer. You can book a backstage tour or simply admire the grandeur of the facade or interior, imagining the secrets hidden within. Discover Alberta’s best theatre venues, ranging from historic landmarks to ultra-modern spaces, and their captivating stories. More on calgary-trend.com.
Citadel Theatre
Citadel Theatre is a complex of five performance spaces located in downtown Edmonton, making it one of North America’s largest non-profit theatres. The building houses the Maclab, Shoctor, and Club (formerly Rice) theatres, the Zeidler Hall (home to the Rapid Fire Theatre troupe), the Tucker Amphitheatre, and the Foote Theatre School.
Each of these spaces offers inventive “live” experiences that transport the audience to worlds beyond imagination. Established in a former citadel in 1965, the theatre owes its name to this origin. Productions created here for Edmonton are fit for stages worldwide.
Every year, the Citadel Theatre hosts a large-scale event called Beyond the Stage, designed to encourage visitors to explore various forms of entertainment, not just traditional theatre. The theatre also operates a year-round theatre school. It serves as the home base for the Catalyst Theatre and the Rapid Fire Theatre Society. The former is known for bold, original productions showcased across Canada and beyond, while the latter specializes in improvisational comedy through weekly events, festivals, and workshops.
Vertigo Theatre
Located at the base of Calgary Tower, Vertigo Theatre is a professional venue that produces plays in the mystery genre. The space is divided into the Playhouse, a theatre with a sprung floor and a sloped seating arrangement often rented for performances and presentations, and a smaller studio area with movable seating that changes with each production.
The GRAND
In 1912, businessman, lawyer, and politician James Lougheed constructed the Lougheed Block, a multi-purpose commercial building in Calgary with retail shops, offices, and residential units. On its ground floor, a theatre was leased and operated by Bill Sherman, after whom it was named Sherman Grand. At the time, it seated 1,350 people, making it the largest theatre in Western Canada, with the largest stage in all of Canada.
This is Calgary’s oldest theatre. Originally established for touring productions and vaudeville, it also served as a hub for Calgary’s political and social life, hosting meetings, debates, and speeches. It was considered very modern for its time, with all 15 dressing rooms equipped with electric lighting and hot water.
In 1914, the name was changed to Grand Theatre. By 1957, following the construction of Jubilee Auditorium, it primarily functioned as a cinema, occasionally hosting vaudeville acts, plays, and concerts.
The theatre officially closed in 1999, later transforming into an indoor golf facility. In 2004, it was purchased by Theatre Junction, which reopened it as the Theatre Junction GRAND. In December 2018, a new owner rebranded it simply as The GRAND. Having survived multiple ownership changes, closure threats, and drastic transformations, the theatre remains a cornerstone of Calgary’s arts and culture scene.
The building features spaces ideal for theatrical, cultural, and exhibition events, as well as weddings, private gatherings, corporate parties, and presentations.
Badlands Amphitheatre
This open-air theatre and music venue is located in Drumheller, amidst the Canadian Badlands, in the natural bowl of a canyon. The stunning landscapes and excellent acoustics make it a superb location for live performances and concerts.
Since 1991, the amphitheatre has hosted theatre productions, opera performances, fireworks displays, film screenings, and festivals such as Roots, Blues & BBQ and Badlands Lightfest. Among its most popular events are the annual Badlands Passion Play held in July and the Canadian Icons Concert Series in August.
The Badlands Passion Play is based on a script about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It has been performed annually since 1994, transporting audiences back to the early days of Christianity. The production involves over 500 volunteers from across Western Canada, with amateur performers supported by professional actors, directors, and theatre crews, including star vocalists, a choir, and a backstage technical team.
Attention to every prop and hundreds of authentic costumes have earned the production international acclaim and numerous awards. It has even been named Alberta’s top cultural landmark.
Martha Cohen Theatre
Located within Calgary’s Arts Commons, the Martha Cohen Theatre is named after Canadian civic leader and philanthropist Martha Cohen. Designed in the Georgian style with a courtyard-like setup, the theatre features a versatile stage that can be adjusted using lifts to change its height or shape.
Between 2014 and 2016, the venue received state-of-the-art audio equipment, new seating, and a modern lighting console. The seating is arranged across three levels, with the farthest seat being just 12 meters from the stage.
The theatre meets the highest standards of comfort and technical capabilities, making it ideal for plays and solo concerts. Since 1985, it has been home to the Alberta Theatre Projects, a professional non-profit Canadian theatre company renowned in Canada and beyond for developing new Canadian plays, including historical works.
Max Bell Theatre
Also located within Arts Commons, this theatre serves as the home for Calgary Theatre, the city’s first professional theatre troupe. It is named after Max Bell, a Canadian newspaper publisher, horse racing enthusiast, and philanthropist.
The auditorium features three-tiered seating, ensuring every viewer is no more than 20 meters from the stage for excellent sightlines. Its fly tower, a system for stage equipment, is one of the tallest in Canada, standing at 24 meters.
In 2016, the theatre underwent a major renovation, including new seating, fresh paint, and an upgrade from analog to digital sound systems. It is suitable for plays, concerts, and dance performances thanks to its sprung floor.
Empress Theatre
Located in the town of Fort Macleod, the Empress Theatre has been operating as a non-profit venue since 1912. It was initially opened for vaudeville and theatrical performances for the North-West Mounted Police. The theatre is designated as a provincial historic site.
The brick building may lack a grand facade, but it complements the streetscape beautifully and stands out from other theatres. Empress Theatre offers a wide range of high-quality artistic and cultural events for the rural communities of Southern Alberta. The venue retains original features from its opening, including the balcony, lounges, dressing rooms, and projection booth.
The building hosts not only plays but also concerts, film screenings and festivals, summer theatre camps, musicals, private showings, weddings, conferences, meetings, lectures, workshops, debates, symposiums, religious gatherings, paranormal investigations, parties, and more.
