No! We are temporarily pausing programming, not permanently closing. The decision to take a strategic pause provides us with time to reassess options and plan for a more sustainable future. The length of this pause depends on finding a viable path forward—whether that means substantial repairs to the current building, relocating, or reimagining our operational model. However, we are committed to Pacific Theatre’s artistic mission of producing theatre that rigorously explores the spiritual aspects of human experience, and plan to come back stronger in the future.
The Chalmers Heritage building has structural issues that are causing water ingress and creating elevated levels of mold backstage. As a tenant, Pacific Theatre has limited ability to resolve these structural problems, which require extensive repairs estimated at more than $500,000. We are currently in conversation with our landlord regarding having these concerns addressed.
Initial remediation work will be done during the summer months of 2025, ensuring that the theatre is safe for our staff, artists, and patrons. It is our hope that pausing programming in 2026 will allow our landlords the time and space to fix the root structural issues. If these fixes are made in time, Pacific Theatre would be excited to return to 1440 W 12th Ave, and continue working closely with our landlords, Holy Trinity, and our co-tenants, the South Granville Senior Centre.
The health and safety of our staff, artists, and patrons is our number 1 priority. During July and August 2025, our landlord will undertake remediation work that will address the water ingress and mold levels backstage. We will have the air quality tested after remediation is complete, and ensure that all safety requirements are met before we reopen the theatre to the public. Staying true to PT’s value of relational integrity, we promise to be completely transparent during this process.
Our 2025-26 season will be a scaled-down season running from September-December 2025. This will include one mainstage production, multiple ancillary events, and our cherished PT tradition – Christmas Presence. Subscriptions will not be available for the “mini-season”, but current subscribers (of our 2024-25 season) will receive early access to purchase tickets.
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Yes! PT will retain its charitable status, and will continue to issue tax-deductible donation receipts for all donations above $20. Your donations will fund our season productions, as well as support us during the programming pause while we search for new venues and reimagine PT’s operational model. Visit our donation page for more information.
You’re a special one for clicking on this question. Our community and volunteers make PT what it is today! Thank you for supporting us as we enter this next unwritten chapter. Here are some ways in which you can help:
Donate. Ticket sales account for 40% of our operating revenue, and producing a shortened season will greatly reduce our earning potential. Help us through this next phase of growth so we can bring back high-quality, thought-provoking art to a venue near you.
We’re pausing programming, but we’re not pausing operations. The PT Board and leadership will be working hard, meeting with all levels of government, funders, donors, venues, and artists while we reimagine the future of Pacific Theatre. Stay up to date with our progress by signing up for our newsletter here.
Pacific Theatre seeks to be an artistic home for emerging and established artists in Vancouver. While we grapple with the search for a new home, we in no way want to leave our community with nowhere to go! A major focus for us will be to stay connected with our PT community through these growing pains. We will still create opportunities for dialogue, interaction, and creation, either online or in person at rented venues.
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Pausing programming requires us to make some changes to our staff team. Following our exit from the venue, PT’s staff will scale down to our Artistic and Executive Directors. The Board will continue to serve the society, and engage in community consulting, fundraising and an active venue search.
Thanks for asking. Our small staff team and volunteer board have been working tirelessly to tackle these issues for years. The past 12 months have been particularly trying, as we prepare to bid farewell to our beloved home and some of our amazing teammates – it’s tough. We’ve had more than 50 sold out performances this season, so we’re experiencing a mixture of hope and optimism for the future, and grief for the momentum we’ve built post-pandemic that we now need to pause.
We are grateful to be able to share this news with our community now, and look forward to more opportunities to connect, brainstorm, celebrate and dream together soon. Despite the myriad of emotions we are processing, we are certain that this decision we have taken is a step in the right direction towards building a more sustainable PT.
Emailing info@pacifictheatre.org will be the fastest way to reach the team during the pause.