The Rickshaw Theatre

The cavernous theatre space at 254 East Hastings was originally known as the Shaw Theatre, a Kung-Fu movie house built in 1971. It closed as Kung-Fu movies went out of fashion through the 1980s. The man behind the venue’s 2009 resurrection as the Rickshaw Theatre is David Duprey, a well-known eastside entrepreneur.

Extensively tattooed and salty-tongued, David is known widely for his public efforts to turn Vancouver’s “no fun city” reputation on its head. In addition to the Rickshaw, David also owns the Narrow Lounge and the Rumpus Room in Mount Pleasant, and he’s leased gallery space to a range of East Vancouver artists.

Today, the Rickshaw Theatre is a go-to spot in the independent music community for live music performances by local and international acts. It’s also a venue for a variety of independent cultural events.