Our Venues
Located Behind the Tennis Courts
Located behind Cartwright Street and the tennis courts, and next to Sutcliffe Park. In the 2024 Fringe, Alder Bay Dock serves as an outdoor venue and starting point for a Roaming show. This is a non-traditional performance space, with capacity for 40 people. Surrounded by lush island greenery and Alder Bay. The venue is accessible by sidewalk from Cartwright Street and easily identifiable.
The check in for this venue is next to the Community Centre.
1400 Johnston St, V6H 3S1
Arts Umbrella is an arts education non-profit where young artists ages 2–22 cultivate their creativity in Art, Design, Dance, Theatre, Music & Film. Its state-of-the-art 50,000 net-square-foot arts education centre on Granville Island houses ten visual arts studios, ten dance and theatre studios, a photography darkroom, a media arts hub, and a 132-seat theatre.
The venue is fully access-friendly with nearby parking available. Shows take place on the second floor, accessed by an elevator. The Entrance to this venue is in front of the building. Click here to read the access guide.
1286 Cartwright St.
Home to a creation-based contemporary arts company, Ballet BC’s interior fosters artistic exploration and boundary-pushing ideas. Acting as a ‘Bring your Own Venue,’ this building provides a professional and experimental space for artists to share their work.
The performance space is located on the 3rd floor, with elevators and ramps on each of the floors, making this location accessible for wheelchairs, walkers, or mobility scooters. The entrance to the venue is in the front of the building.
The famous Fringe Bar is home to free nightly music and entertainment, games, laughs, new friends, and a guaranteed great time. Acting as a meeting place for artists, patrons, volunteers, and staff, the Fringe Bar offers a welcoming atmosphere which will undoubtedly inspire a memorable evening. With parking and a drop-off area directly outside of the front gates, an entrance that is wheelchair, walker, and mobility scooter accessible, this space welcomes all. Located on Johnston Street, and marked by large signage.
Located on the Northeast point of Granville Island, Granville Island Ferry Dock can be found on the False Creek waterfront.
Acting as a ‘Bring Your Own Venue,’ the shows at this location will be held on one of the False Creek Ferries, and experienced while on the water. There is a ramp that leads down to the dock, but the boats’ accessibility capacities are limited. The check in for this venue is located next to the ramp.
An outdoor gathering space and information hub for all things Fringe, this space is your go-to for any questions, comments, or concerns. Located next to the Festival House, Fringe office, and Box Office, the Hub is easy to locate and accessible on foot or by wheelchair, mobility scooter, or walker. With nearby parking and proximity to bus stops, this space acts as a home-base for all Fringers. Click here to read our access page.
Acting as a ‘Bring Your Own Venue,’ Off the Tracks is a cafe turned Fringe venue this year. The venue is located on Railspur Alley, and will offer food and drink.
The front door of the building is flush with the pavement, making it accessible for wheelchairs, walkers, and mobility scooters. The entrance to this venue is located in front of the cafe.
Located near the Northeast shore of Granville Island, this unconventional venue is a set of semi-covered spaces running along the old Emily Carr building. This venue is fully accessible, but does not have a washroom nearby.
The venue itself is 20 meters away from the check in location on Johnston Street.
1218 Cartwright St., V6H 3R8
Originally a machine shop in the 1920s, Performance Works opened in 1992 with a mandate to provide the arts community with a permanent rehearsal and performance venue. Owned by CMHC-Granville Island and managed by the Granville Island Theatre District, Performance Works is a flexible black box theatre space booked by many of Vancouver’s most exciting performance events and productions.
This venue is fully accessible, absent of steps or ramps. Both washrooms involve a sharp turn, and there are no mechanical switches to operate the washroom doors. Accessible parking is located adjacent to the front door of this venue. This venue will also operate as a box office during the Festival. Click here to read the access guide.
The Picnic Pavilion is a covered area located near the entrance to Granville Island beside the pond. This outdoor space is a popular location for barbeques, family gatherings, school groups, and non-profit community group celebrations.
This outdoor space is fully accessible with nearby parking available. The nearest accessible washrooms reside within the Kids Market. Check in for this venue will be in front of the space, next to the duck pond.
Next to Parking Lot 73
Located behind parking lot 73, Sculpture Grove runs along Alder Bay. This space is a hidden gem that functions as a performance venue, due to being removed from the business of the Island. Sculpture Grove is accessible on foot by the path running alongside it, and directly behind a large parking lot.
This venue will have a mixture of seating and standing spaces to watch the performances. The venue check in is located on the edge of Parking Lot 73.
1585 Johnston St.
The Backstage Lounge is owned and operated by the Arts Club Theatre. Set up as a restaurant and bar, the venue is accessible for wheelchairs, walkers, or mobility scooters.
The check in for this venue is located just inside the front door.
1502 Duranleau St, V6H 3S4
The Improv Centre 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 this theatre’s productions.
This venue is completely accessible. The majority of the theatre is raked seats with stairs, but there are plenty of floor seats that can be moved to accommodate a patron in a wheelchair as well. Wheelchair washrooms are easily accessible off the lobby.
1398 Cartwright St, V6H 3R8 (3rd floor).
The New Emergent Studio Theatre (The NEST) is an intimate and flexible performance space. It’s a black box theatre featuring customizable riser seating and the option to uncover the windows, providing lots of natural light that fills the theatre. Housed on the third floor of Festival House, the NEST is owned by CMHC-Granville Island, and stewarded by the Granville Island Theatre District.
An elevator with a weight grade of 4,000lbs provides access to the third floor studio space, alongside a staircase with sturdy stair-rails. The NEST shares parking with Waterfront Theatre and we recommend arriving early to secure a spot. Click here to read the access guide.
1601 Johnston St, V6H 3R9
The Revue Stage is managed by CMHC Granville Island. It is a 190 seat, thrust-stage venue.
The theatre, bathrooms and lobby are all accessible, absent of steps or ramps. Wheelchair seating can be found in the front row of the theatre, inside the doors. Nearby parking can be found on Granville Island. Click here to read our access page.
Upstart & Crow is bookstore that supports storytelling, readers, and writers, making it a perfect ‘Bring Your Own Venue’ for the festival. The entrance is flush with the pavement out front, the front door and main floor of the building are accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and walkers.
Located at the West end of Railspur Alley, Upstart & Crow is easily identifiable and just a short walk from various parking options and bus stops.
The Urbanarium acts as a space that encourages conversation about the rapidly changing world around us, this venue is well-suited to unconventional performance. In 2024, the Urbanarium is used as a starting point for roaming shows and for a single audience member performance.
Located just off of Cartwright Street at the entrance to Railspur Alley, The Urbanarium is easily identifiable by both its positioning and brightly coloured exterior.
The venue features one step up into the space for shows taking place in the Urbanarium, and the roaming performances will require movement across Granville Island.
1412 Cartwright St, V6H 3R7
The Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island is located next door to the Kids Market. An intimate, air-conditioned, 224-seat performance venue, the Waterfront Theatre is one of the urban jewels of the Vancouver arts community. Since its transformation from the old Tyee Machinery Building over 30 years ago, the Waterfront Theatre has hosted a myriad of productions.
There is accessible parking at Waterfront, though certain spots are blocked by poles on the passenger side which may prevent cars from opening their doors fully. The washrooms are accessible, however there is a sharp turn into the women’s washroom. The flooring is also covered in a non-slip coating. Click here to read the access guide.
1515 Anderson St.
Zameen Art House acts as a space for various performances and artistic endeavours, featuring two intimate venues that transport audiences into the show’s world. Located just off Anderson Street, the front door of this building is easy to identify, although a flight of stairs is found immediately inside the front doors.
To access this space by wheelchair, mobility scooter, or walker, an elevator can be found inside of The Improv Centre, which is located just two doors to the right of Zameen Art House.
