About Us

About The Improv Centre

The Improv Centre is Vancouver’s leading and best known improv theatre company. It was originally formed in 1981 under the name The Vancouver TheatreSports League.

Charity registration number:  126177112RR0001

It was founded to promote, develop, maintain and present improvisational theatre productions and presentations to local and visiting audiences in Vancouver. The Improv Centre office and 186 seat theatre are located on Vancouver’s Granville Island. Each year, over 60,000 audience members, artists and students enjoy our theatre’s productions.

Waterfront Patio & Bar

The Improv Centre’s Bar & Lounge is our very own licensed facility where we offer a selection of beverages – both non-alcoholic and alcoholic. The bar opens one hour prior to show time. As The Improv Centre is a fully-licensed facility, minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Our lounge and boardwalk patio overlooks the picturesque Granville Island Marina and False Creek, which are particularly spectacular on warmer days. You can order drinks and snacks up to one hour before our performances and during intermission, and you’re welcome to bring them into the theatre to enjoy during the show!

Frequently Asked Questions

 

If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact us at boxoffice@theimprovcentre.com or 604.738.7013.

Is The Improv Centre wheelchair accessible?

There is a limited amount of wheelchair accessible seating available. Please contact us to reserve these seats or to communicate any accessibility needs at boxoffice@theimprovcentre.com. Please note that all of our table seats are step free.

Can caregivers accompany a guest at no cost?

Yes – if you have an Access2Entertainment card, your accompanying caregiver will receive free entry. Contact the box office for the promo code to apply at check out. If the accessible table is needed, contact box office to book. Your Access2Entertainment card will need to be provided for verification upon entry.

Where can I park?

Parking on Granville Island can be challenging depending on what time of day you arrive. See our “Plan Your Visit” page for details on parking and transit options.

 

Where and when do I buy tickets?

Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, or in person at our box office. Tickets bought online are sent to the email address associated with the purchaser's account. We recommend you buy your tickets in advance of arriving to the theatre as many of our shows tend to sell out!

How do I use my downloadable PDF tickets?

You can print out tickets or present the PDF on your smartphone at the venue. If you choose to print your tickets, please be careful to print or present the ticket (in the PDF attachment), not the receipt or a screenshot of the ticket.

How do I use my ticket vouchers?

If you received a ticket voucher or donation voucher with a control and redemption number on it please email our box office with both numbers and which show date you would like to book in for. Since changing ticketing systems these vouchers are only able to be redeemed through our box office team.
If you have received a physical voucher with no control number please email our box office to book in your tickets! All vouchers with no control number are required to be handed in to our box office. upon check in for your show.

How early should I arrive for the show?

Our bar and lounge is open 1 hour prior to the start of our first performance that day. Theatre doors will open 30 minutes prior to your show. We recommend arriving at least 20 minutes before the show.

What is your latecomer policy?

Performances start promptly at the time indicated on your ticket. As to not disturb the performers and other audience members, latecomers may be seated at the intermission or at the discretion of the Front of House staff.

Participants in classes and workshops arriving later than 15 minutes past the scheduled start time of their program may not be able to access the building due to security protocols.

What if I lose something at the theatre?

Call or email our box office and we’ll check our lost and found. Please note that the lost and found is cleared of unclaimed items approximately every six months.

Do you serve food?

The bar offers a limited number of snacks available for purchase. There are several restaurants on Granville Island delighted to welcome you before or after your show – we recommend making a reservation with one of our restaurant partners here and present your same-day tickets for a discount.

What if I can't make it to the show?

All ticket sales are final and we are not able to offer refunds or credits for missed performances. However, you can gift your tickets! If you have digital tickets, the email or PDF can be forwarded to the person you wish to gift them to. For paper tickets, you can give them to the person that will be attending the performance. Tickets will remain under the purchaser’s name.

Can I bring food into the theatre?

Beverages and snacks purchased from the Bar are welcome to be brought into the theatre. Outside food and beverage is not permitted in the theatre.

Can I bring children to your shows?

We strive to offer programming which is accessible to people of all ages; however, young children can be disruptive. Use your best judgement, but as a rule of thumb we ask children be at least 8 years and older and only attend G or PG rated shows.

Please Note: as The Improv Centre is a licensed facility, all minors (persons under the age of 19) must be accompanied by an adult.

Will I get chosen by the performers if I sit up close?

We encourage audience participation for all of our shows, but we would never ask an audience member to come up on stage or participate if they did not want to, regardless of where they are seated.

Can I 'heckle' the performers or interact with the cast on stage?

Participation is encouraged and a key factor in improv. Please call out your ideas or volunteer to participate when the cast requests audience participation. Untimely or ‘unasked for’ participation can be very disruptive to the cast and unpleasant for your fellow audience members. In such cases, individuals not respecting this regulation will be asked to leave the theatre.

Can I take photos during the show?

Using your camera during the performance is disruptive to fellow audience members as well as to the cast and is not allowed under any circumstances. Individuals not respecting this regulation will be asked to leave the theatre.

Can I use my phone during the show?

Using your phone during the performance is disruptive to fellow audience members as well as the cast and is not allowed under any circumstances. Individuals not respecting this regulation will be asked to leave the theatre. If you need to urgently use your phone, please step into the lounge to do so.

How can I help support The Improv Centre?

As a registered charity, we rely on contributions from community-minded individuals like you who value the work we do on stage, in the classroom, and in the community. Your donation is critical to our success. How does your gift work? We invest donations in the production of our shows, the development of new improvisers from diverse communities, and our commitment to education. Click here to learn more about the different ways to give and why. Please consider making a donation today. You can donate online as part of your ticket purchase, as a separate transaction, or by contacting our Managing Director at 604.738.7013. Tax receipts will be issued for gifts of $20 or more.

Can I volunteer with The Improv Centre?

As a non-for-profit charity, The Improv Centre is grateful for the wonderful volunteers who help make our shows possible. We are always looking for new additions to our volunteer community! Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities and perks.

Is The Improv Centre available to rent?

Yes! Our theatre holds up to 186 guests – 48 cabaret seats, 18 bench seats & 120 theatre-style seats. We have audio-visual capabilities including a raised stage, projector, full audio switchboard, mics and lighting operated by our professional technicians. Visit the Rent Our Venue page for more information.