4 Best Performing Arts Venues in Halifax, Nova Scotia

From July through early September, actors perform works by the Bard and others in Point Pleasant Park, at the southern end of the Halifax peninsula. The natural setting—dark woods, rocky shore, and ruins of fortifications—provides a dramatic backdrop. Performances take place from Tuesday through Sunday at 7 pm, with an improv night on Monday (weather permitting), and you can arrive up to two hours before to secure a good spot (at least 30 minutes before is recommended).

The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium at Dalhousie University's Arts Centre hosts a full program of performances, including touring national and international entertainers—recent shows have ranged from Rufus Wainwright and Mavis Staples to comedian Billy Connolly and various tribute bands—and opera and classical concerts featuring Symphony Nova Scotia.

Performances are staged here most nights, depending on the season, and the lighthearted fun begins when you arrive in the lounge.

The country's oldest professional repertory playhouse—it opened in 1915—is also the largest in Atlantic Canada, with a main stage and studio theater under one roof. It presents year-round performances ranging from classics to comedy and contemporary Canadian drama, plus occasional concerts.