The Varscona Theatre is a live performance venue in the Old Strathcona neighborhood of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A former firehall, since 1994 the Varscona has been operated by a consortium of small theatre companies, including Rapid Fire Theatre, Shadow Theatre and Teatro la Quindicina . The theatre is also the home of the nationally renowned live improvised soap opera Die-Nasty and the improv variety show Oh Susanna!. In addition, the Varscona has hosted tapings of The Irrelevant Show, a national sketch comedy program aired on CBC Radio. For a time beginning in 1979 it served as Edmonton's first arthouse movie theatre.The Varscona Theatre was formerly called the Chinook Theatre, and served as the headquarters of Chinook Children's Theatre and the Edmonton International Fringe Festival from 1983-1993. It is still used as a venue during the Fringe festival every August.In 2012 the "iconic" theatre was threatened with demolition, but in May 2013 the provincial government of Alberta announced a $2 million grant for renovation of the facility.External linksVarscona Theatre

For 5 days in the heart of winter, WWPT turns the word-based world upside down & presents #Canoe2015, Edmonton's festival of innovative live theatre!