The Performing Arts

The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton St., and the McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Sq., share a common box office (tel. 888/717-6121 or 250/386-6121; www.rmts.bc.ca). The Royal -- built in the early 1900s and renovated in the 1970s -- hosts concerts by the Victoria Symphony and performances by the Pacific Opera Victoria, as well as touring dance and theater companies. The McPherson -- built in 1914 as the first Pantages Vaudeville Theatre -- is home to smaller stage plays and performances by the Victoria Operatic Society.

Theater

Performing in an intimate playhouse that was once a church, the Belfry Theatre Society, 1291 Gladstone St. (tel. 250/385-6815; www.belfry.bc.ca; bus no. 22 to Fernwood St.), is an acclaimed theatrical group that stages four productions (usually dramatic works by contemporary Canadian playwrights) October through April, and one show in August. Tickets are C$21 to C$36 (US$18-US$31/£9-£16).

The Intrepid Theatre Company, 301-1205 Broad St. (tel. 250/383-2663; www.intrepidtheatre.com), runs two yearly theater festivals. In spring it's the Uno Festival of Solo Performance, a unique event of strictly one-person performances. Come summer, Intrepid puts on the Victoria Fringe Festival. Even if you're not a theater fan -- especially if you're not -- don't miss the Fringe. More than 50 performers or small companies from around the world put on amazingly inventive plays. The festival runs from late August to early September, and performances are held at six downtown venues daily noon to midnight.

Theatre Inconnu, 1923 Fernwood (tel. 250/360-0234) is Victoria's oldest alternative theater group, celebrating 20 years of performances. The actors are local and often semiprofessional, but quality is excellent and tickets are inexpensive. They stage a two-man adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol every year.

The Langham Court Theatre, 805 Langham Court (tel. 250/384-2142; www.langhamcourttheatre.bc.ca), performs works produced by the Victoria Theatre Guild, a local amateur society dedicated to presenting a wide range of dramatic and comedic works. From downtown take bus no. 14 or 11 to Fort and Moss streets.

Opera

The Pacific Opera Victoria, 1316B Government St. (tel. 250/385-0222, box office 250/386-6121; www.pov.bc.ca), presents three productions annually during the October-April season. Performances are normally at the McPherson Playhouse and Royal Theatre. The repertoire covers the classical bases, from Mozart and Rossini to Verdi and even Wagner. Tickets cost C$30 to C$110 (US$25-US$93/£13-£50).

The Victoria Operatic Society, 10-744 Fairview Rd. (tel. 250/381-1021; www.vos.bc.ca), presents Broadway musicals and other popular fare at the McPherson Playhouse. Tickets cost C$18 to C$45 (US$15-US$38/£8-£20).

Orchestral & Choral Music

The well-respected Victoria Symphony Orchestra, 846 Broughton St. (tel. 250/385-9771; www.victoriasymphony.bc.ca), kicks off its season on the first Sunday of August with Symphony Splash, a free concert performed on a barge in the Inner Harbour. Regular performances begin in September and last through May. The Orchestra performs at the Royal Theatre or the University Farquhar Auditorium. Tickets are C$14 to C$60 (US$12-US$51/£6-£27) for most concerts.

Dance

Dance recitals and full-scale performances by local and international dance troupes such as Danceworks and the Scottish Dance Society are scheduled throughout the year. Call the Visitor Centre at tel. 250/953-2033 to find out who's performing when you're in town.

Comedy & Spoken Word

Mocambo, 1028 Blanshard (tel. 250/384-4468), a coffeehouse near the public library, hosts a range of spoken-word events through the week (multimedia fusion demos, philosopher's cafes, argument for the joy of it, slam poetry), then lets loose on Saturdays with improv comedy. There is no cover.