Best Theatre In Toronto… and Nearby
Toronto is a big theatre town.
But not all the theatre in Toronto is of the big theatre genre.
Word has it that after London and New York, Toronto is the largest city in the world for English theatre. It has both the big blockbuster shows and new plays in development. At any given time there will be up to seven of the top Broadway shows playing in Toronto. That’s one for every day of the week.
If you love theatre, go to Toronto and binge-watch play after play. Take in the regional theatre scene nearby with its small-town charm. Wondering where to start? How to plan? Here’s the lay of the theatre land in Toronto featuring only my favourites.
Theatre in Toronto – big Broadway shows
Mirvish Productions brings the big shows to Toronto and presents them in some of the most exquisite theatres anywhere, including The Princess of Wales Theatre and the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Check out their line-up and don’t miss out on their Off-Mirvish productions–the shows that they’re betting on being the next big hits.
Theatre in Toronto – the small (and not-so-small) theatre scene
Two of my favourite small theatres in Toronto are:
• SoulPepper Theatre – I’ve had a season membership to SoulPepper for years. Operating year-round it offers 20th-century classical theatre as well as new works. Located in the Distillery District, it’s a great destination for a bit of shopping, dinner and a play.
• Tarragon Theatre – Tarragon supports the creation and development of new plays and they have quite a talent for doing so having been the incubator for Two Pianos Four Hands – one of the most produced plays in North America. Note that the Tarragon closes over the summer months.
Theatre near Toronto – day trips
While many of the small towns in southern Ontario have summer theatre , there are two major theatres that are always worth the trip.
• Stratford Festival – If you’re looking for great productions of Shakespeare, go to Stratford. Running from early spring to late fall, the Stratford Festival offers repertory theatre with a few Shakespeare plays, a big musical production, and a few smaller plays in development every year. Book a B&B or hotel and enjoy a few days of theatre.
• Shaw Festival – While Stratford focuses on Shakespeare, the Shaw Festival focuses on George Bernard. Each year they produce plays by George Bernard Shaw and other notable playwrights. Located in the quaint town of Niagara-on-the-Lake about 1 ½ hours from Toronto, you can make a day of it or stay longer.
Theatre in Toronto – Ticket Sales
To ensure that you satisfy your theatre fancy, use any of the links in this post and buy tickets in advance. But if you’re already in Toronto and want to go to a play on short notice, head to the T.O.TIX booth at Yonge-Dundas Square (the southeast corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets). They have some discounted tickets which they post every day at noon.
From small theatres to big Broadway productions, from community theatre to summer-stock in neighbouring towns, Toronto has it all when it comes to live theatre. When planning your trip to Toronto, you may also want to read Affordable Toronto: 32 Free and Low-Cost Tips.
What’s your favourite kind of theatre experience: big and bold or small and intimate?
More Articles With Canada
Some of the most amazing destinations Canadian travellers are dreaming of visiting during the second half of 2021.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “staycation” is defined as “a vacation spent at home or nearby.” In Canada, we’re incredibly fortunate because our “nearby” is pretty epic. With an abundance of wide open spaces beneath our feet, our backyard lends itself well to staycationing in the enormity and beauty of nature. With big… Continue reading 8 Chill Winter Staycation Ideas for Close-to-Home Travel
9 tips on how to work from here
Who said you have to choose between work and play? Working from home has become a way of life this year in ways we could have never imagined. But now, that home office (or frankly, for most of us just sitting on the couch) feels a bit stale. So, to give you a little wanderlust inspiration, we’ve… Continue reading Work From Here: Dreamy Canadian destinations for the ultimate “WFH” getaway
Each year between October and March, something spectacular takes place in the sky above a host of Canadian coordinates. In a show of epic proportions—the kind only nature can pull off—the Aurora Borealis paints the night sky with swaths of fuchsia, green, and violet that hover 80 to 640 kilometres above the Earth. And because… Continue reading 7 Best Spots to See the Aurora Borealis in Canada