Rickshaw Theatre is a distinctive Vancouver concert venue housed in the former Shaw Theatre, a cinema building dating from the early 1970s. The former movie auditorium was later transformed for live concerts and events, while its elongated theatre layout and balcony help create a relatively intimate connection between the audience and the stage. Capacity can be adapted to different event configurations, allowing the venue to accommodate a range of concert and performance formats.
The interior retains the character of a traditional cinema and theatre while incorporating professional modern sound and lighting systems. Clear sightlines toward the stage are one of the venue's notable features, and visitors can also find balcony seating, coat-check facilities and full-service bars. Rickshaw Theatre is particularly associated with energetic rock, punk, metal and alternative concerts, although the space can host other types of performances as well.
The venue is located at 254 E Hastings St, Vancouver, Canada, in the Downtown Eastside area near Chinatown. Street parking is available on nearby Gore, Pender, Keefer and East Georgia streets, while Stadium–Chinatown and Main Street–Science World stations are within walking distance of the entrance. For a broader overview of transportation and getting around Vancouver, see the city information further down the page.