The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres stand at 189 Yonge Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, a short walk from the city's busy theatre and shopping district. Opened in 1913, the complex is a historic double-decker theatre, and it is the world's last operating Edwardian stacked theatre, a rare survival of a once-common design.
What makes it worth a visit
The building is really two theatres in one. The Elgin, the lower of the two, and the Winter Garden, set above it, were built together, so a visit here is a chance to see how early twentieth-century theatre was planned and staged. For anyone interested in architecture or the history of live performance, the complex offers a direct link to that period.
What you can do there
- Attend a live performance in one of the two theatres.
- Join a guided tour of the building and its historic spaces.
Performances and tours are the main ways to experience the site, so it suits both theatregoers and visitors who simply want to see a heritage building in use. If you are planning a trip, check the current programme before you go, as what is on and when tours run can change.
Around the theatres
Yonge Street is one of Toronto's best-known thoroughfares, and the theatres sit among its shops, restaurants and other cultural venues. Combining a performance or tour with a wander along the street makes for a full afternoon or evening in the city centre.
To make arrangements, you can call the box office on +1-416-314-2901.