Vertigo Theatre calls itself Canada’s national theatre of mystery and intrigue, and the address plays along, because the company sits at the base of the Calgary Tower in the heart of downtown Calgary.
Inside are two performance venues and a rehearsal hall, plus the BD&P Theatre Series, the company’s mystery lineup. Vertigo says it welcomes more than 50,000 people a year, and that count includes audiences for the local arts organizations that call the building home.
The company is approaching its 50th season, according to its own leadership announcement. Jack Grinhaus is artistic director, and Breanne Harmon started as executive director on 15 June 2026.
Records and a radio show
The 2024/25 production of Murder on the Links saw the highest grossing audience in Vertigo’s history, by the company’s own account. Awards help the case too. Since the Betty Mitchell Awards began in 1998, Pleiades Theatre and Vertigo productions have been nominated for over 300 awards, in categories running from design to fight direction.
When theatres closed in March 2020, Vertigo teamed up with 6 Degrees Music and Sound to make Vertigo Mystery Radio, audio mysteries for listening at home, released on 10 September 2020.
If you like Calgary theatre with a story behind the building, read how the Pumphouse Theatres used to push water, not drama and how Workshop 14 grew up and became Theatre Calgary. Then see how Wagonstage has been bringing plays to Calgary parks since 1971.
Current shows and tickets are on the Vertigo Theatre site, and the Tower makes the place hard to miss.
Quick answers
Vertigo Theatre is at the base of the Calgary Tower in downtown Calgary. The building holds two performance venues and a rehearsal hall, and the company’s administrative offices are at Suite 161, 115 9 Avenue SE, according to Vertigo’s website.
Vertigo Theatre produces mystery theatre and calls itself Canada’s national theatre of mystery and intrigue. Its main lineup is the BD&P Mystery Series, and it also made Vertigo Mystery Radio, a series of audio mysteries released on 10 September 2020.
Vertigo Theatre says it welcomes more than 50,000 people annually, including audiences for local arts organizations that use the building. The 2024/25 production of Murder on the Links gave the company its highest grossing audience in Vertigo’s history, according to its website.
Sources: Vertigo Theatre, About; Vertigo Theatre, History; Vertigo Theatre, new executive director announcement.
