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The Capitol Theatre
Portal Players Dramatic Society
4904 Argyle Street · Port Alberni

Live on Argyle Street since 1936.

This historic former movie theatre is now home of the performing arts, owned and operated by Portal Players Dramatic Society. Our team of volunteers produce and perform plays and musicals at The Capitol Theatre. When we’re not on stage with our own productions, doors are open to touring acts, concerts and local events.

Next on stage · Live at the Capitol
The Comedy Department presents Improv Comedy Rumble
OCT23
Improv Comedy RumbleFriday · 7:30 PM · The Comedy Department
Get tickets
Portal Players Presents

Our own plays & musicals

Made right here by Alberni Valley volunteers: actors, directors, designers and crew. This is who we are, and it’s been happening since 1978.

See this season’s productions →
Live at the Capitol

Touring shows & rentals

Concerts, comedy, tribute acts and community events booked into our theatre. Every ticket helps Portal Players keep this historic 1936 theatre open.

Book the theatre →
Coming up

What’s On

  1. Oct23Fri · 7:30 PM
    Live at the Capitol

    Improv Comedy Rumble

    Presented by The Comedy Department · “Whose Line Is It Anyway? meets the Thunderdome”
    Tickets & info
  2. Oct25Sun · 7:30 PM
    Live at the Capitol

    Killer Bands from Outer Space

    Presented by Punks On Port · Error=Human, The Fomites, Upstairs Neighbours, 0-1=2 · Halloween costume contest · Minors with a guardian
    Tickets & info
  3. Nov7Sat · 7:30 PM
    Live at the Capitol

    Dreams ~ Arrival

    Presented by BMR Entertainment · Fleetwood Mac & ABBA tribute concert
    Tickets & info
  4. Nov13to Nov 28
    Portal Players Presents

    Pen Pals

    By Michael Griffo · 7:30 PM · $30 per person, or included in the $79 Season Pass
    Tickets & info
  5. Feb4to Feb 20
    Portal Players Presents

    The Golden Anniversaries

    A comedy-drama about marriage, memory and long-term love · 7:30 PM · $30 per person, or included in the $79 Season Pass
    Tickets & info
  6. Feb6Sat
    Live at the Capitol

    The Comic Strippers 19+

    Presented by The Roman Empire Production Corporation · A male stripper parody & improv comedy show · 7:30 PM · 19+ only
    Tickets & info
  7. Apr15to May 1
    Portal Players Presents

    Lips Together, Teeth Apart

    7:30 PM · $30 per person, or included in the $79 Season Pass
    Tickets & info
Portal Players Presents · 2026–27 Season Pass

Three shows. One great season.

Your neighbours, on our own stage. The Season Pass gets you into one performance of each Portal Players production this year.

Season Pass$79

One performance of each production. Buy your season now and choose your dates and seats later.

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New shows, auditions and presales, straight to your inbox.

Every seat, light and curtain is volunteer-powered

Keep the lights on

I

Become a member

Join Portal Players Dramatic Society, vote at the AGM and be first to hear about auditions.

Join Portal Players →
II

Volunteer

Act, direct, run lights and sound, build sets or welcome the audience at front of house. No experience needed.

Find your role →
III

Sponsor Our Season

Partner with Portal Players and turn our promotion into your promotion. Six partnership packages, from $120 for individuals to $3,000+ for businesses, with season tickets, logos, programme ads and more.

See partnership packages →
IV

Donate

Portal Players is a registered charity. Your gift keeps a 90-year-old building alive, and we issue official tax receipts.

Give today →
The Capitol Theatre on opening day, May 16, 1936
Opening day, May 16, 1936. Photo: A. Joseph Clegg, courtesy of the Alberni Valley Museum.
Our story

90 years of curtain calls

  1. 1936The Capitol opens on May 16 with Bette Davis in Dangerous, 500 seats, air conditioning and a chesterfield in the foyer.
  2. 1978Twenty locals meet in the North Island College gym and found Portal Players.
  3. 1989Portal Players buy the Capitol. Eight months and $150,000 in grants, donations and volunteer sweat later, it reopens with Something’s Afoot.
230seats today
1989volunteer-owned since
100%volunteer-run

Read the full history →

Rentals

Put your name on the marquee

Concerts, recitals, film nights, memorials and touring shows. Stage, lighting, sound and 230 seats in downtown Port Alberni.

Request a booking
The Capitol Theatre Lined Notebook cover, showing the theatre on opening day in 1936
Fundraiser

Capitol Theatre notebooks

The 1936 opening-day photo on a 120-page lined journal. $10 from every copy goes to Portal Players.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

New shows, auditions and presales, straight to your inbox.