Malkin Bowl Theatre at Night

Theatre Under the Stars is an outdoor Vancouver theatre company which puts on musicals in Stanley Park in the summer. The plays are really good.

This year’s season ran from June 27th until August 16th and featured the musicals Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Legally Blonde.

Shows started an hour early on July 19th, 23rd and 26th, so at 7:00 pm instead of at 8:00 pm. That was to give people time to head to Second Beach or somewhere along the English Bay waterfront to see the Celebration of Light fireworks after the show.

Click tuts.ca for the theatre’s official website.

This article includes info on the following topics:

Theatre Under the Stars at Stanley Park

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is an exceptional musical theatre company that offers live outdoor performances at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl. It’s located more or less in the middle of the park, at 610 Pipeline Road near the Stanley Park Pavilion.

The theatre has been a Lower Mainland tradition for decades with performances from early July through mid to late August each year.

TUTS offers wonderful professional-quality shows and is definitely a best place to be in Vancouver for entertainment. We highly recommend you check it out.

See the official Theatre Under the Stars website for full details about the shows.

TUTS Productions

Two musicals hit the stage in the summer of 2025. One was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the other was Legally Blonde.

The two productions in the outdoor theatre alternated most evenings, meaning that each one played every other day for the nearly two-month run of shows.

Continue reading below for full details about the 2025 season. See our article about CATS and School of Rock in 2024 for a detailed description about our experience watching last year’s shows.

See the official Theatre Under the Stars website for more details.

Theatre Under the Stars at Night — Mackin Bowl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Under the Stars

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells the story of young Charlie Bucket who manages to find a golden ticket that gives him the chance to tour Willy Wonka’s fantastical chocolate factory.

Based on the famous Roald Dahl book of the same name, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a stage adaptation that keeps the whimsy of the original tale while adding in extra flavour in different ways.

The first previews were on June 27th and 28th, 2025, and opening night was July 2nd. The show then ran every second night until August 15th.

Click Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for full details about this musical.

Legally Blonde at Theatre Under the Stars

Legally Blonde is based on the film of the same name. The movie was released in 2001, and soon after was turned into a musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. The story follows sorority girl Elle Woods who enrolls at Harvard Law School to try and win back her ex-boyfriend who recently dumped her.

While in her first year at school, Elle and a few of her classmates are assigned as interns on the legal defence team for a fitness video star who is accused of murdering her husband. Elle must use her newfound lawyer skills to crack the case while also navigating personal drama.

The first previews for the show were on June 29th and 30th, 2025, while opening night was July 3rd. The show then ran every second day until August 16th.

Click Legally Blonde for full details.

See the official Theatre Under the Stars website for more details.

Admission Prices

Regular admission prices for each TUTS show in 2025 ranged from $35 to $69 for adults (depending on the section). Children ages 5 to 12 were charged $35 and kids ages 4 and under entered for free, but only if they sat on an adult’s lap.

Early bird pricing cost between $35 and $59 per person if bought between May 22nd and June 11th, 2025.

There were also “subscriptions” where you could purchase a ticket to a performance of each show for $100 in total (or $70 for youth) which included the opportunity to select a seat anywhere in the audience. A subscription also included exchange insurance which allowed you to change your ticket to be for another night (if the weather didn’t look good).

See the official Theatre Under the Stars website for the latest details.

Ticket Tips

Below are some tips to help you save money most years.

TIP #1: Tickets are typically sold at a reduced rate on Preview Nights during the first few days of the season. On these days the cost is only around $20 to $55 for adults and $20 for youth and students. If you want to go to a discounted show, buy your tickets for these nights.

TIP #2: Early-bird tickets cost about $10 less than regular tickets. If you know for sure that you want to see a TUTS show, then either buy early bird tickets or a subscription.

TIP #3: You can also order tickets over the phone by calling 1-800-514-3849. However, there is usually an additional $5 charge per order when booking this way.

Theatre Under the Stars Venue

The Malkin Bowl is located in the middle of Stanley Park at 610 Pipeline Road. It’s within sight of the Stanley Park Pavilion and just a short walk south of the park’s main bus terminal near the Miniature Train.

The theatre is an attractive outdoor venue, complete with a licensed beverage and snack bar. Theatre seats are plastic outdoor patio chairs with cushions available by donation (and we recommend you get a cushion).

See the official Theatre Under the Stars website for tickets to the shows.

Outdoor Theatre Lobby at Stanley Park

Theatre Tips

Below are suggestions on how to make the most of your outdoor Stanley Park theatre experience.

TIP #1: Arrive early if you want to get parking within reasonable walking distance of the venue. If there early, you can go for a stroll and explore Stanley Park. Take a picnic, visit the Aquarium, go for a walk along the seawall and have a wonderful day.

TIP #2: Take a warm sweater or two, and/or a blanket. It gets cool most evenings by the end of the show (especially in August).

TIP #3: Cushions for seats are available by donation and are highly recommended. They are worth the extra few dollars and the money goes to a good cause.

TIP #4: Standard tickets are non-refundable. If you think there’s a chance of rain, either take a raincoat or pay the extra $5 at the time of booking for exchange insurance which allows you to reschedule for another evening (as long as you reschedule before the show starts).

TIP #5: As the sun goes down, you’ll also notice the little evening bugs that come out. Bring your own form of insect repellent to help keep those little critters away.

Theatre Under the Stars Stage