Visitor Questions

Theatre Under the Stars is a not-for-profit society that entertains through popular musical theatre shows, while providing a vibrant outlet and training ground to develop amateur performers and technicians both young and old.  TUTS values an atmosphere of inclusion and mentorship in order to build strong character and to promote positive values.

Theatre Under the Stars is now in its 79th year of presenting theatre at its outdoor venue in Stanley Park.  It is a time-honoured tradition for thousands of Lower Mainland families as well as attracting visitors from around the world: up to 40,000 patrons each summer.

Approximately 1000 at capacity. Everyone that buys a ticket gets an actual seat in the theatre, although some people choose instead to sit on the grassy slope on the west side of the theatre. You still need to purchase a seat ticket.

Malkin Bowl is a gently sloping grassy field.

Our Creative Advisory Committee and Board of Directors takes great care to select shows that are suitable for a broad audience, but we recognize that everyone has their own personal tastes. Prior to purchasing your tickets, we suggest you research the style and message of the show.

If you are interested in volunteering for TUTS, please visit the Volunteering page of our website to apply for Production (including crew) and Front-of-House positions.  If you are interested in being part of the cast, our auditions information is posted online in the fall before the upcoming season (i.e. Fall 2022 for 2023 season auditions).  We could not do the work we do without our amazing team of volunteers, so thank you for your interest, and we hope to hear from you soon!

After 2 years of darkness, Theatre Under the Stars is excited to present Something Rotten! and We Will Rock You, performing throughout July and August 2022. We are looking forward to bring the magic and tradition back to the Malkin Bowl stage in a celebratory ‘come-back’ season.

Please check out our ‘On Stage‘ page for more information & dates to be posted shortly.

If you would like to have flexibility with your tickets, purchase the $5 Exchange Insurance at the same time for the ability to change your tickets (one time) to a different evening.

No – unless you purchased EXCHANGE INSURANCE at the time you originally purchased your tickets. Otherwise, ticket sales are final and non-transferable except in the case of a cancelled performance.

When you order your tickets, you may choose to print them at home and bring them to the theatre, receive them on your mobile device, or you can pick them up at the Box Office (go to the window marked Will Call).

Please email support@etix.com with your order information.  All successfully completed ticket transactions should receive an online ticket confirmation.

In the event a is cancelled due to weather, tickets will be honoured for the best available seats in the equivalent section at any subsequent performance.

No. Tickets cannot be reserved without payment.

The Box Office will be open from 2pm until show time each day during the summer season. You may pick up your tickets anytime before the show.  The lobby area (including the Garden Cafe concession, the bar, etc.) will open 60 minutes before show time. TBC with pending health restrictions.

Children under 5 years old are allowed to come to our shows for free, however they will need to sit on the lap of an adult.  If you wish to have a physical seat for them, you would need to purchase a youth-priced ticket.  Many families enjoy bringing a blanket with their young ones and sitting all together on the grassy hill.

If you purchased EXCHANGE INSURANCE then yes! Otherwise, tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable…unless TUTS cancels the show due to weather. Please click here and scroll down to read about our cancellation policy. 

In general, our policy is to go on with the show even if it looks like rain! We distribute complimentary ponchos to patrons in the event of steady rain just before or during the performance.

Yes! There is an accessible drop-off location close to the theatre entrance and limited accessible parking close by. There are accessible washroom stalls both on-site, as well as in the Stanley Park Dining Pavilion, just off-site.  TUTS is also proud to be a participating venue in the Access 2 program.  Cardholders who wish to purchase tickets can contact the Ticket Call Centre at 1-800-514-3849 or buy their tickets in-person at  the TUTS Box Office during the show run.  (Location details can be found on our Ticketing page). Each year, TUTS partners with VocalEye to provide a live description performance for people who are blind and partially sighted. 

The lobby doors open at 7:00pm, and the seating area will open at 7:30pm. The show will start at 8:00pm except for Fireworks Nights (2022 dates: July 23, 27 & 30) when the show starts at 7:00pm. On these evenings, the lobby doors will open at 6:00pm, and the seating area will open at 6:30pm.

Yes – however, ushers may require you to wait to be seated until an appropriate moment during the performance.  We recommend you give yourself at least half an hour or more to park, walk to the theatre, find your seat, etc. as the park can be very busy in the summer.

You may leave and enter the theatre with a valid ticket stub.

No.  Casual dress is recommended with additional layers to add as the night progresses. 

Yes.  You can eat in your seat or on your blanket on the grass.  Theatre Under the Stars also has a Garden Café concession  with hot and cold food, and a Hot Drinks bar featuring hot chocolate, coffee and Tega Tea ($3 each) and a TUTS wine/beer bar featuring beer, red or white wines and coolers ($8 each).

You can eat at the Garden Café, which is located within our site – (view menu selections). Alternatively, right across from the Theatre entrance is Stanley’s Bar & Grill, located in the Stanley Park Pavilion.  To make a reservation or view their menu, please visit their website.

Yes.  We have portable washrooms on site, and there are also regular washrooms in the Stanley Park Dining Pavilion just off-site. 
There is a baby-changing area in the women’s washroom at the Stanley Park Dining Pavilion.

In the event of steady rain just before or during a performance, we distribute complimentary TUTS ponchos as needed (although we suggest bringing your own rain gear just in case, if skies are cloudy on the night you plan to attend). Umbrellas are not to be used in the seats as they may block another patron’s view.

If you are concerned about the weather on the day of the performance you plan to attend, and you have purchased EXCHANGE INSURANCE with your ticket(s), you can exchange your tickets for a  future performance. NOTE that this exchange must be made before the start of the performance you originally bought tickets for (8 pm, or 7 pm on fireworks nights).

If the weather makes it unsafe to begin or continue a performance, tickets for that show will be honoured at a future performance. Full details on our Rain-Out Policy.

For our 2022 season, Something Rotten! will run approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission and  We Will Rock You will run approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

Yes, although the grounds are uneven.  Assistance may be necessary. We have volunteer ushers who are happy to help.  

No.

Unfortunately, only service animals are permitted at Malkin Bowl.

Yes. It is advisable to dress accordingly and bring insect repellent with you.  Please be mindful of other patrons during application of any repellents or lotions.

No. The fireworks display happens at English Bay. You can walk there following the show in about 15-20minutes. There are closer areas of Stanley Park that you can walk to where you can see the fireworks that are higher up in the sky just South of the theatre or at Second Beach.

No.

During the season we sell TUTS merchandise in our on-site Emporium. We sell blankets, sweatshirts, water bottles, cards, bookmarks, magnets, tote bags and toques. 

Yes, there is an ATM bank machine on site. Our box office accepts cash, credit, and debit cards.  Our bar and merchandise tent each accept cash, credit, and debit cards. The Hot Drinks bar and food concession are cash only.

Pay parking is available throughout Stanley Park. The closest lots to Theatre Under the Stars are the Horse Barn Parking Lot, Christmas Train (formerly Children’s Zoo) Parking Lot, and Stanley Park Drive Parking Lot. Parking is $3.60/hour or $13.60 until 11pm.  Bus parking is $16.50 until 11pm.

Bicycles can be brought inside the theatre and locked to the inside of the perimeter fencing.  Please do not leave your bike attached to the front gate!

Taxis are able to drive into Stanley Park. As it is very busy after the show, it is best to arrange in advance and ask them to pick you up at the parking area beside the Stanley Park Dining Pavilion (the exact address is 610 Pipeline Road).  Staff are happy to help you book, if you need assistance.

The #19 Stanley Park/Metrotown bus will take you into and out of the park.  Go to http://tripplanning.translink.ca/; enter 610 Pipeline Road or Malkin Bowl as your destination or departure address, to get specific bus times.  When leaving the theatre you can catch the bus at the Bus Loop behind the Stanley Park Dining Pavilion.