Vancouver has many theatres and performing arts groups. In December there are typically lots of great Christmas concerts and other performances to choose from!
Vancouver Theatre in December
Plays and other performances showing at Vancouver venues in December this year include Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and ECHO by Cirque du Soleil at Concord Pacific Place. There’s also Cinderella by the Deep Cove Stage Society at the Deep Cove Cultural Centre and the Arts Club Theatre‘s Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. More shows take place at Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver and at The Improv Centre on Granville Island as well.
Additional details about the shows are below. For a list of festive choir and other music performances, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
The Nutcracker Suite
December 19, 2024 – December 22, 2024
The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas ballet about a couple of children, toys, mice and a nutcracker. It includes music by the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky and is one of the most famous and watched ballet productions in modern times.
Shows with Goh Ballet take place on December 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd in 2024 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Cirque du Soleil
October 9, 2024 – December 15, 2024
Cirque du Soleil is a world-famous circus show featuring acrobatics, live music and lots of other amazing entertainment. This year, the company presents ECHO. It’s a story about evolution, nature and animals. Shows take place in a massive structure at Concord Pacific Place in the first half of December.
For more details, see our Cirque du Soleil article.
The Improv Centre
The Improv Centre normally hosts special shows in November and December. 2024 details are to be confirmed.
Last year, Back to the Holidays ran from Thursdays to Saturdays between November 23rd and December 23rd. There were also afternoon shows on a couple of Sundays. The two other special shows at The Improv Centre last year were 2023 and Me, and NYE at TIC. Both of these were a fun way to celebrate the previous year.
Cinderella
December 19, 2024 – December 29, 2024
The Deep Cove Stage Society is a small theatre company that puts on shows at the Deep Cove Cultural Centre in North Vancouver. In celebration of the Christmas season, the company hosts Cinderella pantomime shows in December each year.
This year’s Cinderella performances run on Thursdays to Sundays between December 19th and 29th. Admission is pay what you can (with a $5 minimum).
Presentation House Theatre Shows
December 1, 2024 – December 21, 2024
Located in North Vancouver, Presentation House Theatre hosts three different shows in December of 2024. The first is intended for kids ages 3 to 7 years old, while the other two are full of festive fun for the whole family.
Where the Wild Things Are shows twice at the venue on December 1st. A Christmas Carol then shows on December 7th, 14th and 15th. The theatre concludes the season with the Holiday Singalong on December 17th, 18th, 20th and 21st.
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol
November 14, 2024 – December 24, 2024
The Arts Club puts on Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol this year. Based on the book written by Charles Dickens, the musical follows Scrooge, ghosts and other characters who try to change his perspective on life. The shows are held at Vancouver’s Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage at 2750 Granville Street.
Performances run on most days between November 14th and December 24th this year. There are no shows on Mondays.
Other Information
For a list of shows at other times of the year, see Vancouver’s Shows & Entertainment Calendar.
To learn more about other events this time of year, see the December Events Calendar.
For a list of festive choir performances in the Lower Mainland, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
For the Lower Mainland’s best winter holiday attractions, click Top Things to do in Vancouver at Christmas.
