7 Places to Learn Something New in Victoria

Theatre fans have been flocking to the McPherson Playhouse for more than a century. The nearly 800-seat venue stages a mix of professional and amateur plays, musicals, and ballet.

Full of tradition, the classical theatre setting helps bring out the best out of nostalgic performances like the Beatles Show – you'll easily step back in time and be in the moment.

Contemporary Canadian works are the speciality of this neighbourhood theatre in Fernwood. The professional company produces up to 12 plays a year, including many premieres, in a converted 19th-century Baptist church.

The Royal Theatre has been welcoming audiences since 1913. Victoria's professional orchestra, the Victoria Symphony, performs a pop series, children's stories, and major productions featuring international soloists. In early August, Victoria Symphony Splash sees the ensemble playing from a floating barge in the Inner Harbour. 

Every nearby spot is jam-packed with concertgoers, while kayakers grab the best view right by the stage. Opera fans have the pick of 3 professional operas per year, staged by Pacific Opera Victoria.

The Victoria Conservatory of Music's 800-seat concert hall is housed in a former church and plays host to international and local musicians. An annual sing-along Messiah draws hundreds of enthusiastic singers each December.

Created in the Romanesque Revival style, Craigdarroch Castle is a massive stone, turreted home, designed to display Dunsmuir's wealth. You can gaze at intricate stained-glass windows, handcrafted woodwork, and high-end Victorian furnishings.