Rental Information

At this time, the George Ignatieff Theatre has been temporarily closed due to its proximity to the development site for the Lawson Centre for Sustainability.  It is anticipated to reopen fully, integrated with the new Lawson Centre for Sustainability, mid-2025.  More information will be provided closer to that time.

Please visit the George Ignatieff Theater home page for further information.

 

When not needed for Trinity College and University of Toronto classes, the theatre hosts a diverse range of activities.   Members of our community, both Trinity and University of Toronto faculty, staff and students, and our friends and colleagues from the greater university and artistic communities present lectures, conferences, films screenings, music concerts, dance recitals, musical and theatre performances on our stage.


Rental Information

When is the theatre available for rental?

September – 1st Week of April

  •  6pm-11pm Monday-Thursday
  •  1pm-11pm Friday
  • 8am-11pm Saturday-Sunday

Note: November/February Reading Week

  • 8am-11pm Monday-Sunday

2nd Week of April – July

  • 8am-11pm Monday-Sunday

August

  • Closed for maintenance.

What does it cost to rent the theatre?

Different rates apply depending upon the complexity of your event, the degree of access required, and your affiliation to us. If you would like to ensure that you minimize your fees, please plan your schedule carefully. Sundays are subject to a $50 Sunday Surcharge and events that require us to setup/strike outside of our normal working hours are charged at 1.5X regular rate.

What is included in rental fee?

The rental fee depends on what you are doing, how much equipment you need, and how you like to work.  We expect to discuss your event needs as part of the booking process.  All rentals include at least one theatre technician.

When you book the theatre, we will reserve four hours so that you have enough time to arrive and setup, conduct your event, and then restore the room prior to departure.  If you  need more time, have complex needs, or are planning a multi-day event, we will work with you to find a suitable schedule and to ensure that you know what equipment we can provide and what you need to arrange.

Front of House Services

  • Our clients manage their own front of house, including tickets, ushers, intermission snacks, and merchandise sales.
  • Please contact us if you need suggestions for ticket service providers, catering, or reception spaces.

LECTURE RENTAL
How much does it cost to book a Lecture?

The lecture booking is our most popular booking request.  It takes many forms: from a single individual speaking at a lectern to a complex conference or panel discussion with multiple presenters and presentation needs.  To qualify for a lecture rate,  your event must stay within the front half of the stage, the area in front of our red curtains and projection screen.

Lecture Rates:

  • Basic Lecture / Class: $580 + HST
  • Panel / Conference / Film:  $728 + HST

What is included in the Lecture booking?

Most lecture require only a microphone at the lectern, audience microphones, and a connection to our projection system.   For complex lectures like panel discussions or conferences with multiple presenters, we add additional microphones, tables, chairs, table-cloths, and technician support for setup and strike.

Lecture rates are based on a typical 4-hour schedule as follows:

  • 6:00pm-7:15pm   Technician sets up stage, Event Organizers arrive
  • 7:15pm-7:30pm   Audience arrives and is seated in the theatre
  • 7:30pm-9:00pm   Lecture takes place
  • 9:00pm-9:30pm   Audience Question and Answer time
  • 9:30pm-10:00pm Audience and presenters depart, technician resets stage.

When the equipment required for your event cannot be setup in 75 minutes and put away in 30 minutes or if you prefer earlier access or additional time, Just let us know.  We can add extra time at an hourly rate and we will work with you to figure out a schedule that suits your needs.

What are some lecture setup options?

View of the stage set for the "Masterpiece Theatre" with three chairs on a carpet at center and the podium to stage left.

Masterpiece Theatre setup. Photo credit: Milan Ilnyckyj.

Our theatre is able to offer custom staging options that will give your lecture a  more “conversational” feeling or that will provide an added layer of support for guests  who need access to coat check.

Ask us about our popular “Masterpiece Theatre” lecture setup.  We transform the theatre into a living room with presenters sitting in wing-back chairs placed on a carpet and with a coffee table for water and notes.  The setup includes wireless microphones for the presenters and a dedicated audio technician who sits in the auditorium to monitor the sound for a “Live Mix”.

Do I have Access to WiFi?

Current students, faculty and staff at the University of Toronto all have access the U of T WiFi. Visiting scholars from Canada and the United States also have access through their home university accounts by logging onto Eduroam.

If you are visiting a U of T campus but do not belong to an institution that participates in the eduroam network infrastructure, any U of T faculty or staff member can grant you access to the eduroam Visitor Access (eVA) guest Wi-Fi by visiting eva.eis.utoronto.ca from a computer connected to the U of T network, UTORvpn.

PERFORMANCE RENTAL
How much does it cost to book a Performance?

Send us a schedule and description of your show to start the conversation that will help us understand what level of support you will need for your performance.  We will provide a quote.

Your booking always includes a technician.  To encourage rehearsal and multi-day performances, we discount shows that schedule at least one dedicated rehearsal day.

  • P1: $968 + HST; To qualify Rehearsal and performance on the same day, event time is 4 hours, including setup and strike
  • P2:  $728 per day + HST; to qualify, daily booking is up to 4 hours per day, 1st day is reserved for setup and rehearsal, second day includes performance and strike
  • P3+: $580 per day + HST; to qualify, daily booking is up to 4 hours per day, at least 1 day is reserved for setup and rehearsal, performance day includes performance and strike
  • P5+:  $484 per day + HST; to qualify, daily booking is up to 4 hours per day, at least 1 day is reserved for setup and rehearsal, performance day includes performance and strike

During the term, evening rentals from Mondays – Thursday have a maximum of 5 hours available.  On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and outside the term, it is possible to extend the time.   If you need more than 4 hours on any given day, please let us know when you are booking the theatre so that we can add it to the rental fee.  If available, and agreed, an extra one or two unscheduled overtime hour(s) may be added to a booking on short notice.  Please be aware that overtime hours are charged at 1.5X the regular rate.

What is included in a performance?

Performance Rates include access to the full stage area, stage lighting and sound systems, wireless intercom, and dressing rooms. Access to our projector can be added for a daily fee. Acoustic concerts and concerts that provide their own audio system (including technician) are eligible for a discounted rate.

DISCOUNTS, & CANCELLATION POLICY
Discounts

Please check with us to see if you qualify for a discount based on your relationship with us and/or your university affiliation. 

  • U of T Departments, Centres, Institutes, and Campus-Recognized Groups.
  • Not for profit, community, and alumni.

Cancellation Policy

  • If you cancel more than 60 days prior to the date of your event, we will refund your rental fee less a cancellation charge of the greater of $250 and 25% of your rental fee. The cancellation charge is non-refundable and non-transferable.
  • If you cancel between 14 days to 60 days prior to your booking, we will refund your rental fee less the greater of $250 and 50% of your rental fee.
  • If you cancel less than 14 days prior to your booking, there is no refund.

CONTACT US
Complete the Rental Inquiry Form for a Quote

Link to the Rental Inquiry Form.   Please be aware that the theatre is closed temporarily while the Lawson building is being constructed next door.   We anticipate re-opening in 2025.   Please visit the Theatre Home Page for updates.