The historic Stanley Theater is a Vancouver landmark and heritage site, and one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. Although it began life as a movie theater, today’s Stanley Theater is one of the main venues for the acclaimed Arts Club Theater Company; it has been renamed the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage .
The elegant 650-seat theater typically features six productions per season; Its size enables the Arts Club Theater Company to perform musicals, 20th century classics, and acclaimed productions from around the world.
History of the Stanley Theater in Vancouver, BC
The Stanley Theater began life on December 15, 1930 as a movie theater. Built by theater chain mogul Frederick Guest, the theater was designed to be a dream building – a beautiful structure with a neoclassical interior, Art Deco exterior, and seating for over a thousand people.
Like Stanley Park, the theater is named after the Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley. The first film to be screened there was One Romantic Night , starring Lillian Gish.
Although it was an extremely successful movie theater for much of its life, revenues at the Stanley began to decline in the 1980s. Famous player owners closed the theater and put it up for sale in 1991.
It took a few years, and a “Save Stanley” campaign, before the Stanley Theater Society (formed to buy the Stanley Theater Company for the Arts Club) bought the theater from the Famous Players in 1997.
When renovations were completed to convert the old theater into a live theater, the building was renamed the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. It opened to the public with a record production of Swing in October 1998.
The beautifully renovated theater received the 1999 City of Vancouver Heritage Award as well as the IES International Lighting Design Award. Today it is the main stage of the Arts Club Theater Company.
Reaching the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
The Stanley Theater is located at 2750 Granville Street, in Fairview’s shopping and dining district called South Granville.
Stanley Theater Map
Tickets and stage shows Stanley Industrial Alliance
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage Play Listings and Box Office
Eat and shop before a show
If you’re going to an evening show, you can plan to dine before the theater at South Granville, which is home to two of Vancouver’s best restaurants: the internationally famous Vij’s (one of Vancouver’s top 5 Indian restaurants) and West Restaurant, which is one of Vancouver’s best restaurants and home to amazing original cocktails (if you don’t have time for a full meal before the show).
Just want a bite? Walk south of the theater to Meinhardt’s gourmet supermarket and grab something from their ready-made counter.
If you go to a show early in the day, or just want to spend the day in South Granville, there are many fabulous shops throughout the theater – there are not only big name international stores (Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Restoration Hardware), There are also independent and Canadian stores, including high-end boutiques Misch and Bacci’s.
