Attending a show
There are two main entrances to the NAC and both are accessible.
The first entrance is on Elgin Street, located at the corner of Queen and Elgin facing the National War Memorial.
The second entrance is facing the Rideau Canal. It is accessed from Lawrence Freiman Lane that starts at the corner of Queen and Elgin.
Coat check services are available for all performances in Southam Hall, Babs Asper Theatre, and Azrieli Studio. The cost is $3 per person. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards are accepted.
To help ensure your comfort and security, all bags and suitcases must be left at the coat check, with the exception of handbags. We would also recommend checking your overcoat.
Please note that Coat Check services are not offered from June to August.
Photographic and recording equipment is strictly prohibited inside the hall without prior written permission from the NAC; infringement of this rule can lead to immediate suspension of admission privileges.
Please turn your phone or mobile device ringtone off and brightness down to not disturb other audience members. Much like a movie theatre, phone use can interfere with other patrons’ view; please reduce use to a minimum.
Latecomers will be permitted to access their seats only during a suitable pause in the performance, as identified by the producer. Audio-visual displays are located outside the venue to watch the performance while waiting.
Please note that, for certain performances, as requested by the producer, latecomers are not permitted entry.
Inside the building, signs and helpful staff will direct you to your performance venue.
All NAC public spaces and event spaces are wheelchair accessible. Learn more about accessibility at the NAC.
Southam Hall is our largest performing hall, with 2,065 seats on four levels – Orchestra, Mezzanine, Amphitheatre and Balcony. This venue features large-scale concerts and productions, including NAC Orchestra, Broadway, NAC Dance and Popular Music and Variety shows.
The Babs Asper Theatre is our second largest performance space, with 897 seats on two levels, Orchestra and Balcony. The Theatre features shows from English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, NAC Dance, and Popular Music and Variety.
The Azrieli Studio is an intimate dance, theatre and music performance venue that does not have reserved seating. Arrive early and get the best seats!
The Fourth Stage is our most intimate performance space with no reserved seating.
The Ruddy Lounge is open to eligible donors. The Ruddy Lounge opens one hour prior to Southam Hall evening performances by NAC Dance and by the NAC Orchestra and remains open during the intermission.
If your show has an intermission, be sure to pre-order your drinks and skip the line!
You can pre-order your drinks for intermission, before your show, from any intermission bar counter. Your drinks will then be waiting for you next to the main counter at intermission, saving you time by avoiding the long lineup!
Together, we are responsible for making the NAC a safe and welcoming space for everyone; physical and verbal abuse towards NAC staff and visitors will not be tolerated.
When interacting with NAC employees and other visitors at an event, performance or online, we ask that you be considerate of others, communicate with respect, use our spaces and materials as intended, and respect the privacy of others when photographing or filming your visit.
If you experience or witness physical or verbal abuse of an NAC employee or visitor, please contact NAC Security at 343-588-0699.