The Rickshaw Theatre, formerly known as the Shaw Theatre, was built in 1971 as part of the Shaw Brothers' (Sir Run Run Shaw and Tan Sri Runme Shaw) worldwide movie empire. The Shaw Brothers are the most significant film production company in the history of Hong Kong cinema. Over the past nine decades, the Shaws have amassed a collection of over 800 titles. By the early sixties, the Shaw empire had incorporated 35 companies, owned 130 cinemas, 9 amusement parks and 3 production studios.more...See more text
For Mo Tarmohamed, taking over The Rickshaw Theatre was an act of transformation. “I'm actually an accountant by trade,” he laughs. “My background has nothing to do with music, other than the fact that I've always been a music fan. But I'd gotten to a point in my life where I decided that it was time to put up or shut up. I'd had enough of corporate life, and I wanted to go into something that I cared about.”
And ever since he took over the 500-seat venue back in 2011, Mo has worked tirelessly to share his passion with music lovers just like him, providing top-of-the-line sound, a supportive atmosphere, and a diverse lineup of performances that run the gamut from punk, to metal, to alternative indie, to comedy and dance shows.
“My goal is for people to realize that The Rickshaw represents what's good about live performance in Vancouver,” he explains. “It's for people who enjoy watching live performances. There's no overarching plan; we just want people to enjoy themselves. We want to be part of the fabric of the arts and culture in this city.”
Located on Hastings Street just a hop-and-a-skip away from the restaurants and boutiques of Gastown and Strathcona lies the Rickshaw. This former kung-fu movie house has been converted into a live-music venue and now hosts local acts and touring bands alike. The music here skews heavy and loud, so if getting sweaty in a mosh pit is your idea of a good time, head on down.