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Where to See Comedy in Vancouver Now That All the Dedicated Comedy Clubs Are Gone

By Stacey McLachlan /

It’s been a rough couple of years for the Vancouver comedy scene, as you probably knew if you read (and ideally, wept over) our obituary for cult-fave Little Mountain Gallery last winter. We said goodbye to the little community comedy centre (because condos), and even the bigger, more commercial stand-up venues—YukYuks and the Comedy Mix—couldn’t survive the pandemic.

Luckily, it is almost impossible to stop comedians from continuing to perform (because narcissism). In the quiet after the Covid-storm, producers and performers are emerging from the rubble to reform, regroup and mount shows wherever and whenever they can.

Here’s where to find Vancouver’s most tenacious comedians these days.

 

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The MOTN

Tattoo studio by day, occasional comedy venue by night, The MOTN (pronounced “mah tin”) plays host to a variety of irregular and experimental comedy shows, like Rough Draft (a night of standup sharing their new material, May 14) or Movie Madness (where comedians act as commentators to fare like Mama Mia 2).

Where: 582 Powell Street

Show Info: @____themotn

 

 

Slice of Life

The gallery and gift shop focuses mostly on art shows, poetry slams and workshops, but you’ll find comedy nights popping up here regularly too. Catch improv troupe Hot Snack, or the always-stacked lineup at Millennial Line.

Where: 1638 Venables St

Show Info: @slicevancouver

The Lido

One of Vancouver’s rare bars that’s actually just a bar (not a restaurant, not a brewery, not a nightclub), the Lido regularly welcomes comedians onto its tiny stage. Catch Normal Good here, a new stand-up show, hosted by Danika Thibault and Nathan Hare.

Where: 518 East Broadway

Show Info: thelido.net

Tightrope Theatre

Tightrope opened in the former jukebox shop. The Tightrope improv troupe performs weekly shows and teaches out of the space, but other acts run shows here too: Little Mountain Improv, for instance, has a regular Tuesday night slot.

Where: 2343 Main Street

Show Info: Tightrope Theatre on Facebook

China Cloud

By pointing out that the China Cloud exists, are we dooming it to be shut down? It’s a risk worth taking because the comedy events that run out of the delightfully sketchy upstairs space are special. Full disclosure: our associate editor performs here every Saturday night as part of Treat Show. We’ll also disclose that it’s a real fun time.

Where: Maybe we’ll keep it secret and let you google it yourself?

Show Info: @chinacloudstudios

604 Studios

The Comedy Here Often? monthly showcase (the last Friday of every month) offers a rotating cast of up-and-coming and headliner comedians, like Juno-nominee Andrea Jin. We don’t know who painted the Save By The Bell-chic stage backdrop, but we applaud you as much as we applaud the comedians who perform in front of it.

Where: 795 E Cordova

Show Info: comedyhereoften.com

Hollywood Theatre

Havana Theatre

The Havana has long been home to improv and standup (local hero Graham Clark had a Monday night show that ran for years and years before Covid ruined our lives) and continues to be a port in the storm for comedy. Walk through the Cuban restaurant to find the cozy theatre in the back—which has a semi-recently obtained a liquor license, so you can enjoy a pint with your buds.

Where: 1212 Commercial Dr

Show Info: havanavancouver.com/theatre

 

 

Jokes Please @ The Beaumont and Cambrian Hall

Jokes Please was a Little Mountain Gallery institution, and host Ross Dauk wasn’t about to give up this enthusiastic Thursday night audience that easily. The show’s been transplanted to Beaumont Studios for Thursday nights, and the Cambrian on Fridays, with a whole new lineup of comics every night.

Where: 316 W 5th Ave (Beaumont Studios); 215 E 17th Ave (Cambrian Hall)

Show Info: @JokesPleaseShow

Full Pint Comedy @ Castaway

Hosted by Colin Sharp and Ryan Williams, the weekly standup show managed to weather the pandemic and come out the other side, continuing to showcase local and touring comics on Tuesday nights at Castaway.

Where: 3292 W 4th Ave

Show Info: @fullpintcomedy

Sunday Service @ the Fox Cabaret

They pivoted to online shows during the darkest days of the pandemic, but the monarchs of the Vancouver improv scene are back to rule from the stage at the Fox Theatre.

Where: 2321 Main St.

Show Info: @sundayserviceimprov