Located at North Vancouver’s Capilano University, CapU Centre for the Performing Arts is a beautiful theatre and concert hall that presents jazz, folk and classical music concerts, speakers, and theatrical performances.  

In 2022, CapU Centre (formerly BlueShore at CapU) celebrated its 25th anniversary. In a quarter of a century, the theatre has presented more than 1,000 shows. 

When it launched in October, 1997, the 372-seat centre was celebrated as a much-needed performance space for supporting and showcasing students of the institution's performing arts programs. The theatre has evolved to encompass a broad range of artistic programming including the CapU Jazz Series, CapU Global Roots Series, Classical/Choral Series, Theatre Series, Speaker Series and the North Shore Jazz festival (a co-production with Vancouver International Jazz Festival).

CapU Centre for the Performing Arts’ mandate, first and foremost, is “to provide a working laboratory for Fine and Applied Arts students,” says CapU Centre’s Executive Director Shawn Watson. “This includes performance opportunities for theatre and music students as well as hands-on experience for the Arts and Entertainment Management students to work on professional shows.”

The core values of CapU Centre include the cultivation and nurturing of partnerships with peer arts organizations that have subsequently led to numerous co-presentations and the sharing of resources and expertise. CapU Centre’s values also include supporting local, national, and international artists through performance opportunities as well as assisting their tours with advocacy to like-minded presenters. “It’s all about sustained and diligent networking to keep the CapU Centre’s curation relevant, dynamic and global in scope,” says Fiona Black, director of programming at the theatre. 

Many of CapU Centre’s concerts are presented off-site as co-presentations with other arts organizations. “These co-presentations expand the diversity of programming and audience-reach for both partners,” notes Black. As an example, the CapU Centre for the Performing Arts’ music events with the Cultch—primarily a theatre and dance venue—expand the reach of their audience to music fans. Likewise, CapU Centre is able to access audiences in different geographic locales. “It’s a win-win for all involved,” says Black. 

Performers presented by CapU Centre, either on its own stage or elsewhere, include: Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Mose Allison, Arlo Guthrie, Tanya Tagaq, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Brad Mehldau, Bill Frisell, Black Umfolosi, JJ Cale, Rokia Traore, and Buffy Saint Marie. Speakers include Margaret Atwood, Yann Martel, David Byrne, Anne Rice, and John Irving.

CapU Centre for the Performing Arts is also a prime rental location, its state-of-the-art facilities rented by many organizations across BC and beyond.