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Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Category: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Performing Arts [Edit]
2750 Granville StVancouver, BC V6J 5L1
Neighbourhood: Fairview Slopes
(604) 731-4687
9 reviews for Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
9 reviews in English
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Review from Megan S.
12/3/2008 1 photo
The Stanley Theatre is designated by the City of Vancouver as a heritage building. It's been around 1931, and has been used for movies as well as live theatre.
These days you find it putting on productions for the Arts Club Theatre company. Usually some pretty good stuff. However, the architecture is the highlight here. Amazing domed ceiling, seashell lights, geometric patterns. Very fun to catch all the hidden details in here!
And I love to catch the sign lit up at night! It has a great street presence. -
Review from Mandy R.
5/23/2012
I love attending the Arts Club performances and usually check out about 3 per year (both here and at the Granville Island stage). The Stanley stage is my favourite of the two by far, classic and opulent. There are a number of neighbouring bars that will offer you 15% off your (food) tab if you present them with that night's tickets.
Pro-tip: arrive a few minutes early, and pre-order your drink for intermission. The bar staff prepare them during the show and have them waiting beside the bar with your name by it. Saves you a line-up and maximizes your beverage-consumption time (it can be difficult for some to throw back a drink in the 15 minute intermission).
My only complaint, which has nothing to do with the theatre itself, is the dress-sense of most of the patrons. When did going to the theatre become an event for jeans and golf shirts? Come on. Any time you're sitting in a theatre dripping in gilt, you can take the time to get a little gussied up. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
3/20/2012
This seems to be listed under both the Stanley and the Arts Club; no matter. I'm not surprised that there aren't more reviews here, but I'm hoping that they'll work on gaining the support of the younger set (by younger I mean under 50 crowd).
This is a cute, classic, S. Granville theatre, but the average age of the crowd is 50+ as with so much of the theatre crowd these days. I have no problem with that whatsoever (hey, it makes me look younger) except that they are going to have to make some changes to stick around in the 21 century.
We saw The Importance of Being Earnest which I thought was absolutely hilarious. If you're a fan of the A & W commercials and one of Van's finest actors (also seen in the Bard) you might enjoy it, too. (I won't tell you who he is--you must go for yourself!) This is one of my favourite plays and I could go on and on about how great it is. The problem is, that I seemed to share this sentiment mainly with the 50-60 somethings in the crowd. Meanwhile, my companion started to "rest his eyes". So it's not for everyone.
The premium seats--at almost $60 a pop in the balcony--were just not that "premium". Could this hefty price tag for average seats be another reason that they aren't necessarily attracting the younger set?
The bartender was totally cool and friendly serving up theatre priced drinks that were poured American style. The bathrooms were bigger than a NY theatre; old and in dire need of refurbishment, but bigger than average, so how great is that? Any woman who has ever tried to use the bathroom and then order a drink during intermission (and actually finish it) would appreciate that aspect of the theatre.
All in all, a must go for locals and if you are under 50, do check their sched. for upcoming plays. You might just find something that appeals to you, too! -
Review from Peter S.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
A smaller cozy theatre.
6'4" friendly as you can jam your feet under the seats in front of you for 6 inches of extra leg room. So nice :)
The usual crappy overpriced alcohol served during intermission (hey City of Vancouver, you gotta renegotiate your booze deals in 2012 because these options suck!)
But overall a great experience in the heritage building.Listed in: Leg Room
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
12/28/2011
For the past three years, the Arts Club Theatre Company has produced White Christmas at the Stanley. White Christmas is my favourite Christmas movie, so you can guess that I was stoked to be attending a matinee. And while I was disappointed with their online ordering system and subsequent emailers and direct mailings that bombarded me following my order, I only have good things to say about The Stanley. It's the nostalgic romantic in me, I know, but on a dreary, post Christmas day, stepping in from a wet blustery Vancouver day is like stepping back into time.
Sitting in the third row, I was humbled by the small orchestra area where suited up musicians were tickling the ivories and beating drums. The chairs are low this close to the stage, which made this an ideal section for me, all 5 foot 4 inches of me. Peter S even rejoiced as he dangled his legs in behind the second row, all 6 feet 4 inches of him! But don't forget to bring a shawl, a scarf or a sweater. When the curtain goes up it takes with it all of the warmth from the room, well at least that close to the stage.
The most exquisit feature to my eyes, are the shell sculptures that adorn the walls, trimming the ceiling. It's the small details that make me pause and look up. A perfect thing to do while you're waiting for the theatre to clear during intermission. For 2.5 hours I almost felt like I had been breathing in a different era. Although, that might have also been the fact that it was a rendition of White Christmas on the stage.Listed in: Granville Island Best Of's
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Review from Sheila W.
BC
12/4/2008
The two plays that I have seen performed at this theatre have been worlds apart from each other, which is props to the Stanley for giving me two such different experiences. As a theatre, it is pretty small which makes every seat a great one.
The building itself is enough reason to buy a ticket, just to be able to sit inside for a few hours and feel cultured. The play-going crowd is always a huge mix - from posh grannies to scrubby teens. You can make it a night out or just drop in as you are, which is one of the things I love about it.
It's also on Granville, so it's easy to access on public transit. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in the neighbourhood, making a dinner/theatre date a snap. -
Review from Reena M.
7/16/2009
I saw Les Miz here! The play was awesome, but I'm not here to review the play.
The theatre itself was nice. It had good sound. It is also an historical site. However, it wasn't as amazing as it was made out to be. I think the Orpheum or somewhere is a lot more elegant. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
10/25/2008
For years, students, youths, theatre lovers and their hangers-on have been watching fables, untold truths, myths, stories enacted at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre. It's Vancouver's answer to Broadway (yes, it's essentially limited to this one theatre house... well, this one and another in Granville Island). It's the site of tragic love stories, deaths done in a sing-along song manner, musical comedies, standup performances, et al.
Done up in traditional theatrical art deco style, it will hopefully continue to be the site of more untold tales. -
Review from Victoria R.
BC
12/27/2008
The Stanley is a bit of cultural heaven the city needs.
The old heritage building gives me a glimpse into an old-world glamour, those days when it was romantic to go on a theatre date or better yet it was the highlight of people's entertainment as there were not TV's, internet or clubs. The room is small and the seating allows for everyone to get a great view. The art deco style of the architecture and design of the building reminds me of Miami's South Beach or one of San Francisco's older buildings maybe in the Height District.We need more buildings like this in Vancouver.
