Frequently Asked Questions
Are all Ballet BC main stage performances in the Queen Elizabeth theatre?
Yes — the theatre is located on the corner of West Georgia and Hamilton Street;
the Box Office is located by the main theatre doors on Hamilton Street.
What do I need to know to pick up single tickets at Will Call?
When picking up tickets at the Will Call window at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Box Office you will be required to provide a government-issued photo ID and
the credit card you used to purchase them. It is also very helpful to have
the confirmation number that was given to you at the time of purchase. It is
recommended that you arrive 45-60 minutes prior to the performance. The
box office opens 2 hours prior to the performance. The doors into the
main lobby open 75 minutes prior to curtain time.
Can I buy tickets at the Box Office?
Yes, but only for that day’s scheduled performance. The theatre box
office opens 2 hours prior to curtain time.
Are rush tickets available?
Ballet BC does not offer rush tickets;
however for most of our shows Tickets Tonight is given a limited allotment
of tickets to sell at half price on the day of the performance. These
tickets must be purchased in person at the Tickets Tonight office at
200 Burrard Street.
Can I cancel or exchange single tickets?
All sales are final, and there are no refunds. Exchanges are
permitted on subscription tickets only. Exchanges cannot be granted
if your ticketed performance has already passed.
Subscribers may also donate
their tickets back to Ballet BC for a tax receipt if the tickets are
received by Audience Services 48 hours prior to the performance. Ticket
donations or exchanges cannot be made after the performance.
What about special offers—what rules apply?
Certain restrictions may apply to special ticket offers you
receive from Ballet BC. Most offers are personal, non-transferable
and subject to availability. Some may apply only to specific
performance dates and seating. Offers to individual patrons
exclude group orders (10 tickets or more to one performance date)
and do not apply to previously purchased or exchanged tickets.
Offers may not be combined unless expressly stated in the offer rules.
Discount offers do not apply to already discounted tickets, for example, Senior, Child and Family 4-Pack. Most offers have specific expiry dates but some may expire without notice.
Due to the nature of live theatre, performances, casting, dates and pricing may change without notice.
What happens if I’m running late to the performance?
In the interest of all patrons and performers, latecomers will not be
seated once the performance begins and must wait until a suitable break,
which will likely be the intermission; however there are monitors in the
lobby. Patrons who leave during a performance will not be allowed to
re-enter the theatre until a suitable break.
Is parking available at the theatre?
There is parking in the theatre parkade--enter off Cambie Street.
The theatre does its best to restrict use of the parkade to theatre
patrons on show nights; therefore please be prepared to show them
your ticket when you enter.
There is, however, a limited amount of parking in the parkade and it fills up early. There is no guarantee of available parking even with a ticket to a QET event. There are several other parking lots in the area and some metered street parking.
Patrons with valid Disabled Decals may reserve parking, as available, by calling 604.665.2193 weekdays at least 24 hours in advance of the performance. Please have your decal number and ticket information ready. An elevator operates from both floors of the parkade to the Plaza Level on Hamilton Street. The QET Parking Lot takes cash only.
Are there any pre-performance or post-show activities?
We have entertaining pre-performance chats in the theatre Mezzanine
at 7:00pm before every Ballet BC performance, featuring guest moderators
in conversation with dancers, choreographers, composers or conductors.
Post-show, the audience is invited to join the company for refreshments
at the cash bar in the Mezzanine Lobby.
What should I wear to the ballet?
Basically you can wear whatever you like! You will see people in a
wide range of dress. Many come from work in business attire and many
attend wearing nice jeans. If you are looking for an opportunity to
wear that new cocktail dress or the beautiful suit you recently
purchased, there will be others dressed up, as well.
Are children allowed at Ballet BC performances?
As the parent you know best if your child is able to sit
quietly and enjoy a 2-hour performance while seated in their
own seat. Except for Nutcracker and subscriptions, there is
no special pricing for children (a child is someone 12 or
younger) or full-time students — adult pricing applies.
Children unable to sit quietly and the adult(s) accompanying
them will be asked by an usher to leave the theatre and watch
the performance on the monitors in the lobby. Please note there
are no refunds, credits, or exchanges if you must leave the
theatre because your child was unhappy or disruptive.
Everyone entering the theatre, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket; children must be seated beside the accompanying adult, lap-sitting is not permitted.
What about accessibility at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre?
There is wheelchair seating on both the Orchestra and
Mezzanine levels with special ‘Equal Access’ seating which
provides wheelchair spaces adjacent to regular theatre seats.
For those who would rather not use the stairs, an elevator next to the main entrance operates between the Main Lobby, the Mezzanine Level and the Upper Balcony.
For those requiring hearing assistance, complimentary receivers for the Sennheiser Infrared Transmission System are available at no charge at the Lobby Coat Check. Quantities are limited. A valid driver’s licence or credit card is required.
Binoculars may be rented at the Main Lobby Coat Check.
Do attendants/companions need a ticket and if yes, do
they get any sort of discount?
Everyone must have a valid ticket, including attendants/companions
of persons with disabilities and there are no special discounts
available for attendants.
Are photos allowed?
Photography, video, and audio recording of performances is strictly prohibited.