The Imperial Theatre opened in 1913 as one of Atlantic Canada's finest vaudeville and cinema houses, a Beaux-Arts building with an ornate interior of gilded plasterwork, a domed ceiling, and a curved balcony. It fell into disuse and near-ruin by the 1980s, and its restoration in the 1990s — a project driven by community fundraising and civic pride — is one of Saint John's success stories.
The restored interior is worth seeing even without a performance. The theatre hosts a year-round programme of concerts, touring theatre companies, comedy, and local productions. If a show is on during your visit, attending is the best way to see the building at its intended best — the acoustics are excellent and the sight lines from the balcony are superb. Check the programming online ahead of your arrival.