We welcome groups from public and independent schools, as well as homeschool groups. Organizations such as qualified out-of-school care programs may be eligible. Contact the Education Team at 604-669-3410 for more information. School groups require a minimum of 10 seats booked.

All individuals attending must purchase a seat, including teachers, aides, chaperones, and children of all ages.

Upon making your reservation, you will receive an invoice specifying the performance(s) you have booked, the number of tickets booked, and the amount of deposit and balances and their due dates. You will also receive a booking contract. Orders of $500 or less must be paid in full within 2 weeks of the invoice. Orders over $500 must submit a 50% non-refundable deposit due within two weeks of the invoice. The remaining balance is due 4 weeks before the performance date. Outstanding payments may result in a 5% penalty.

We accept cheques, cash, and Visa and MasterCard. Debit cards are not accepted.

No.

You can adjust the number of seats in your booking at any time up to 4 weeks prior to the performance date, however, no more than 50% of the initial invoice can be refunded. Additional seats are subject to availability. Students who are absent the day of the show will receive a ticket voucher for another performance of the same production. All children using the voucher must be accompanied by an adult with a special school-rate ticket, available through our box office. Tickets are subject to availability.

Out of respect for our audiences, Carousel Theatre for Young People stands firmly behind our age/grade policies. Children under the age/grade level (including babes in arms) will not be admitted. Special All Ages performances will be indicated on our calendars, and include adjustments to sound and lights to make them appropriate for audience members of all ages.

School matinees offer festival seating, so no individual seat tickets will be issued. When you arrive at the theatre, please assemble your group in an orderly fashion outside the building. A CTYP staff member or the Front of House Manager will be on the premises to greet you. Please check in with them and be prepared to provide a complete count of the number of people in your party who will be in attendance, including adults and children. Your group will be seated together on a first-come, first-served basis unless there are special circumstances that require members of your party to be seated in specific locations (near the front, on an aisle, near and exit row).

Our home, Granville Island, is a vibrant and exciting field trip destination. In addition to the Public Market, school groups may be particularly interested in visiting the Kids’ Market just next door to the Waterfront Theatre and the playground and water park next to the False Creek Community Centre. Visit http://granvilleisland.com/ for more information.

For information about how to find Granville Island and transit routes, visit http://granvilleisland.com/how-find-us. The Waterfront Theatre is the big, grey building located at 1412 Cartwright St, on the right side of the street when you first drive onto Granville Island, after the Kids’ Market. The Picnic Pavilion is located behind the Waterfront Theatre, near the playground. Please ensure that all members of your group know to meet at the theatre – NOT at the Carousel Theatre for Young People offices across the street.

Pay Parking is in effect between 9 am - 6pm daily on Granville Island for cars. If arriving by car, we recommend leaving ample time to secure parking. Visit http://granvilleisland.com/parking_information for more information.

Buses may drop off and pick up students directly outside the Waterfront Theatre. Barriers are set out specifically for this purpose prior to each performance. Many bus drivers do not believe that temporary parking outside the theatre is permitted, but please assure them that it is – and it is the safest place to discharge and pick up passengers. Buses can then proceed along Cartwright Street to designated bus parking next door to Arts Umbrella and Performance Works. Please make sure you collect a bus parking pass from the CTYP staff member or the Front of House Manager when you sign in. Buses without a parking pass will be charged.

When you arrive at the theatre, please assemble your group in an orderly fashion outside the building. The Front of House Manager will be on the premises to greet you. Please check in with the CTYP Staff member and be prepared to provide a complete count of the number of people in your party who will be in attendance, including adults and children. If any students are absent you will be provided with vouchers they can use to attend another performance of the same show. If you need a bus parking pass please collect this and give it to your bus driver. The Front of House Manager will assign your group to a waiting area inside or outside the building. In inclement weather we will do our best to bring groups inside and under the building’s awning. Your assistance in keeping your group orderly is appreciated. If students need to use the washroom, the building will be open to accommodate them starting one hour before the performance.

The Waterfront Theatre is a big grey building located at 1412 Cartwright Street on Granville Island, next door to the Kids’ Market and directly across the street from the Carousel Theatre for Young People offices and studios (the blue and purple building). The lobby waiting area cannot accommodate all school groups at once, so be prepared to assemble your group outside the theatre. In inclement weather, we will do our best to bring groups inside and under the building’s awning. Your assistance in keeping your group orderly is appreciated. If students need to use the washroom, the building will be open to accommodate them starting one hour before the performance.

There is no concession at our school matinee performances. Outside food and beverages may be consumed front of house but we ask that students tidy up any spills and dispose of their garbage. Inside the theatre we ask that only bottled water is consumed. If your group has large lunch kit bins, alert the Front of House Manager so that we can store them in the lobby for you during the show.

School matinees offer festival seating. Your entire group will be seated together. We begin seating schools on a first-come, first-served basis 30 minutes prior to the performance. Please keep this in mind when determining your arrival time and organizing transportation. Your entire group must be present and ready to enter the theatre before you can be seated. Should your group have any special seating needs, such as wheelchairs, service dogs, or students who require access to an exit aisle, please communicate this to the Education Manager prior to your scheduled performance. Students are welcome to bring their backpacks into the theatre and stow them under their seats. Kindly remind them to keep the aisles clear.

If you expect you will be late, kindly phone the office at 604-685-6217 and let us know your estimated time of arrival. It is important that the show begins on time and we are not able to delay the start of the performance for latecomers. When you arrive at the theatre, please assemble your group quickly and quietly so that the Front of House Manager can seat you at the first available opportunity.

Please remind your group that they are not allowed to climb up on the stage or lean on the edge of the stage after the show. Kindly exit the theatre in an orderly manner and remove any trash your group may have brought inside. Your group may assemble in the area in which you waited prior to the show. Inform your bus driver that they may pick up your group in front of the theatre alongside the cones.

Carousel Theatre for Young People provides a Resource Guide for Educators for each show with fun and thought-provoking activities for before and after your visit to the theatre. Look around the theatre for fun conversation prompts to interest your students while you wait for the show to begin. Children are always interested to learn more about the cast, crew, and staff by reading the Bio Board in the front lobby.

Carousel Theatre for Young People loves to hear from the students and educators who have visited us! Send letters, drawings, and cards to us at Carousel Theatre for Young People, 1411 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R7 or by email at info@carouseltheatre.ca. Send us photos of your class’ work or update us on how it went at education@carouseltheatre.ca