Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Great spot to catch a show. Good sound and good venue. A litte dated however.

This is an interesting venue. Located in the wilds of the CNE grounds, it is accessible by GO, and TTC. But unlike a central location, there is not much else happening around. I certainly would not recommend coming to kill time here if there is nothing happening.
I saw Midlake opening for Neil Finn recently. The venue is small enough to create an intimate setting. There was something off with the sound. It’s as if it was not working properly and one of the roadies kept plugging /​unplugging his guitar. I really don’t understand the technicalities but at one point, our ears suffered the bad sound from the guitar not tuning properly.
The seats are so old and tiny. Not a problem for me, but for the rest of the people whose girth has increased with age, it was an issue.
This was the stage section.
When you enter, you find yourself in a rather large hall with bathrooms to the side of the theatre, beer and wine sold to your immediate right and if you venture further right and make another right turn, find a larger bar area.
I hope acts book this venue more regularly because it has potential. You can enjoy your faves in an intimate setting.

I’ve seen several comedy shows here over the past couple years at JFL42. It’s one of the best venues for this type of thing in the city.
I really enjoyed when Bill Burr came on and immediately roasted the venue. «Queen Elizabeth» is a beautiful name, but it leaves you expecting a bit more. So true. With that name, you expect a bit more… grandeur.
However, the theatre’s elegance is in its simplicity. While the exterior bears resemblance to a converted middle school from the 70s, the interior is relatively sleek and functional. Seating is comfortable, and it’s very easy to see the stage. There is no balcony, the seats just gradually slope higher and higher.
Furthermore, the layout is simple. It’s very easy to get to your seats, with a minimal amount of stairs.
The acoustics are clear without being brashly loud. Again, excellent for a comedy show.
I haven’t had the slightest problem with security. They’re fast and efficient, but also willing to admit if they don’t know something.
The biggest downside is probably the location.
Bonus: Beer.

I was here as part of JFL42 to see Bill Burr (hilarious show). I didn’t even know this theatre existed here, so I was surprised when I went through the doors and found a large venue that seats 1,250 people! Kinda embarassing, as I like to know my venues around the city…
On this night, I was horribly late. Burr had already taken the stage. I snuck in through the doors to a dimlit theatre, thinking that I would just stand at the back and not bother the other comedy enthusiasts who managed to come to the show on time. An usher approached me and asked if I had a seat, and I said no. She took me up and found me a seat. Awesome. Sorry to the two people I had to ask to move.
Acoustics were amazing. From what I’ve read, they are great here which is a BIG plus considering acoustics is everything in a theatre venue.
Would not hesitate to see another show here at all. After the show I scooted on to my next comedy destination, so I have no idea what the facilities are like.

This is my second favorite venue for concerts. It was small, cozy, with a perfect view of the stage from every single corner. Acoustics were awesome, the bar was there, there’s a smoking area outside where the entrance is. The bathrooms were big and clean. The surroundings are great too — it’s nice to get out of a venue on a warm summer morning and not have to stare at a highway but instead have a park-​like view. Go for a walk, enjoy music :)
I saw Tallest Man on Earth Here. He’s very short… but his voice is absolutely stunning.

AMAZING VENUE!
Saw The Tallest man on Earth there and I was blown away. The venue is beautiful (its seated), not too big and the sound quality is incredible. Several times throughout the concert I was convinced they were just playing his album, this was not so, the sound quality was simply top notch. I would highly recommend seeing a concert here.
Only negative was that they would not allow us to bring our beer into the concert hall, if you wanted to drink you had to do it in the lobby. They also put out free sushi and spring rolls prior to the show which was awesome, who can resist free food!

Recently, I went to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to see comedian, Demetri Martin. Considering the Martin was late for his own show, the theatre staff were a bit chaotic at first, but after a while, they built up their composure and I felt that they made the environment welcoming.
Overall, the venue is superb, and features an amazing sound system, comfortable seating, pleasant staff and clean bathrooms. I honestly don’t have a negative thing to say about the venue, because it defied all of my expectations.
Also, since I didn’t mention it earlier, the venue is just moments away from BMO Field (home of the Toronto FC), and accessible by streetcar, taxi and GO Train.

The Queen Elizabeth Theatre is a lovely live music venue. The theatre boasts very high ceilings, exposed brick walls, a large stage, and theatre style seating. The building itself is roughly 50 years old and the decorum is more 1990s. There is a large scale iron art installation as you walk in the building and a chandelier. I would have preferred the décor to reflect more of a Victorian style and not be so ‘90s contemporary. They have a lounge area to sit and chill and they also serve alcohol and snacks. I believe there are around 1000 seats in the theatre, so a decent sized venue. There is no bad seat in the house and the acoustics are good. Again I would have preferred a more opulent style of design and décor, but all in all The QET has a wonderful ambiance and is an enjoyable space to see a show.

A great spot to catch a show.
They have a lounge with a ton of seating where you can buy drinks while waiting for the show to start. They had sushi and spring rolls on the table, but I was full and am also somewhat suspicious of apps that are just laying around.
We didn’t feel like catching the opening number, and we were able to sit in some comfy chairs, sip some beer and watch the show on a large screen from the lounge. Very civilized.
The concert venue is just great. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. I’m short, so I love the fact that people are encouraged to sit, meaning I actually get to see what’s on stage. I’m not a music nerd, but the acoustics seemed to be really great as well. I’ve seen both a rock show and a stand-​up comedy show here and was impressed by the comfort of the seats and the great views. It’s not a big place. I really love that about it.
My only complaint is that they seem to have maybe 8 ladies’ bathroom stalls in a venue that seats maybe 1,000 people. Also, the nature of the place means that people are going to want to go to the bathroom at the EXACT SAME TIME. They really need to fix this.

woah, nice concert venue! I unfortunately missed out on the FREE SUSHI and SPRINGROLLS. They need to advertise this shit, otherwise I would have been all over that if I had known.
I’m slowly discovering nice concert hall/​theatre-​type venues to see musical acts, this being one of them. Beautiful sound, comfortable theatre seating, helpful and friendly staff and a very nice lounge area to hang and enjoy an overpriced beverage before the show.
Easily accessible by both the Bathurst Streetcar and the Dufferin Bus, it is great that the Queen Elizabeth Theatre is located in the CNE grounds, truly reviving and bringing people back into this dead space in Toronto.

what a great place to see a show, no bad seats. the accoustics are incredible. saw lucinda williams, felt like i was at a church revival. nice bar, drinks are overpriced. they offer sushi and eggrolls while you wait. staff is very friendly and helpful. décor is nice to look at. seats are very spacious.

Beautiful venue with great acoustics. Bar area is comfy and free sushi to nibble made the rounds with energetic bartenders pouring wine into real glasswear– super spiff! Only complaint is the tickets for our show printed doors open at 7, but no opening act made for a looong cocktail hour for a show that started at 8:30– ouch$