Are you looking for live theatre in Halifax? There’s tons of great live theatre here… You just need to know where to look!
Halifax is home to a plethora of excellent theatre companies of varying sizes. Many of them don’t have their own designated performance spaces, so instead of just checking out specific companies, if you’re looking to see theatre in Halifax tonight, the fastest way to do so is by checking with the venues!
Here are 6 popular venues to check out, if you’re looking to see some live theatre in Halifax.
1. Neptune Theatre
If you’ve ever googled “theatre in Halifax”, it’s likely that the first result you found was Neptune Theatre. Neptune has a long and storied history dating all the way back to 1915 (read all about it here). And today, it’s the largest professional regional theatre in all of Atlantic Canada!
The main stage (Fountain Hall) seats 458, and the studio (Scotiabank Stage) seats 192. Depending on the seat category you choose, tickets range between $30-$75 CAD. But before you book, make sure to check out their “Ways To Save” page to find out about current deals, promotions, and pay-what-you-can nights! Check out what’s currently onstage at Neptune Theatre here.
Address: 1593 Argyle St.
Instagram: @neptunetheatre
2. The Bus Stop Theatre
The Bus Stop Theatre Co-op describes itself as “a multi-use performance venue” that “serves as a launchpad for emerging artists and an incubator space for artists of all genres”. It’s a small black-box theatre with an approximate seating capacity of between 75 and 100 people, and is a popular venue for all kinds of shows. On any given night, there might be a new work being premiered, or an improv showcase, or a stand-up special, or even a live band!
Tickets for events here are typically in the $10 range. Find out what’s going on today at the Bus Stop here!
Address: 2203 Gottingen St.
Instagram: @busstoptheatre
3. Alderney Landing
Located just across the way, on the other side of the harbour (in Dartmouth), Alderney Landing is a super-popular 285-seat venue for all sorts of performances!
Perhaps most notably, in the world of theatre, it is home to the well-known Eastern Front Theatre company. Eastern Front’s mission statement is to “[support] the work of Atlantic Canadian playwrights”. Read all about their history here.
Ticket prices vary at Alderney Landing, but are typically in the $20-$30 range. Check out Eastern Front’s current season here, and what else might be going on today at Alderney Landing here.
Address: 2 Ochterloney St.
Instagram: @alderneylanding / @easternfronttheatre
4. Dalhousie Arts Centre
The Dalhousie Arts Centre — located on the Dalhousie University campus in Halifax’s south end — is home to not one… not two… not three… but FOUR performance spaces:
- Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, with a seating capacity of 1,023;
- Joseph Strug Concert Hall, with a seating capacity of 300;
- Sir James Dunn Theatre, with a seating capacity of 198;
- David Mack. Murray Studio (also called “Studio 1”), a black-box theatre with a seating capacity of 80.
As you can imagine, with 4 different theatres, there’s always something going on at the Dal Arts Centre — from Symphony NS shows, to student productions, to lots and lots of visiting guests. Ticket prices vary depending on venue and event. Click here to check out what’s going on in the Arts Centre today (and make sure to keep an eye on the “venue” column for event location)!
Address: 6101 University Ave.
Instagram: @dalartscentre
5. Shakespeare By The Sea
Located outside in beautiful Point Pleasant Park, Shakespeare By The Sea (SBTS) is the largest outdoor summer theatre festival east of Montreal!
Each summer, you can catch a Shakespearean classic (2022 was Hamlet) and/or a family-friendly musical (2022 was Cinderelly), performed outdoors in the beautiful Cambridge Battery. Last year, Hello City (a very popular local comedy improv troupe) did improv in the park each Monday. Hopefully, they’ll be back again, in summer 2023!
All of SBTS’s performances are relaxed (with minimal lights and sound), and are pay-what-you-can (with a suggested donation of $20). Lawn chairs and blankets are available for a $5 rental fee, or you can bring your own! There is also the option to purchase a “Sweet Seat” (a ticket and reserved chair) in advance for $30 (find out more about that here).
You can check out tickets for Shakespeare By The Sea here.
Address: 5480 Point Pleasant Dr.
Instagram: @sbtshalifax
6. Good Robot Brewing Co.
Finally, Good Robot is a very popular local brewery and event space. They host all sorts of “oddball events” (in their own words) including live theatre, stand-up, improv, movie nights… You name it, Good Robot probably hosts it. Check out their upcoming events page here.
Address: 2736 Robie St.
Instagram: @goodrobotbrew
If you know where to look, you’ll find that there’s pretty much always something onstage in Halifax!
And, if you’re looking to join the theatre community yourself, Theatre Nova Scotia (TNS) publishes a weekly e-newsletter with lots of info about upcoming shows in the province. The newsletter is only available to members — memberships start at $10, come with various theatre-related perks, and can be purchased here.
This post was all about where to find live theatre in Halifax. Looking for more Nova Scotia posts? Click here.
