Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres

About the venue

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres occupy a remarkable stacked theatre building on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto. Recognised as a National Historic Site, the complex preserves two contrasting performance spaces: the Elgin's ornate classical interior and the Winter Garden's garden-inspired auditorium above. Their distinctive architecture adds a historic backdrop to live performances and makes the building an attraction in its own right.

Each theatre offers a different visual world, making the complex especially distinctive for visitors interested in the surroundings as well as the performance. The Elgin's decorative tradition contrasts with the imaginative foliage of the Winter Garden, while the stacked arrangement brings both into one architectural landmark. A show here is therefore also an encounter with Toronto's theatre heritage: the building's design and the live programme contribute together to the sense of occasion.