New Comedy Club Ok Dope Opens in Former Logan’s Pub Space in Victoria
Nash Arthur Park has opened Ok, Dope, a new 90-seat comedy and arts venue located in the former Logan’s Pub space near Cook Street and Caledonia Avenue in Victoria, B.C.
Establishing a Dedicated Comedy Room in Victoria
Park, who works as an owner, operator, producer, and performer, stated that the idea for the venue stemmed partly from a lighthearted personal reflection. “I probably didn’t get enough attention in childhood,” Park joked when asked about his motivations for creating the dedicated performance space.
Park’s production company manages hundreds of shows this year across British Columbia, frequently utilizing breweries, pubs, and multi-use spaces that lack dedicated theatrical infrastructure. Dedicated comedy clubs capable of supporting regular weekly showcases and touring circuits remain common in parts of the United States but are much harder to find in Canada, according to Park.
The newly opened room accommodates roughly 90 patrons, prioritizing intimacy over large-scale theatre crowds. This scale allows comedians to test new material and build direct connections with audiences in a room explicitly built for live performance.
Ok, Dope Features Diverse Weekly Comedy Formats
Ok, Dope operates from Wednesday through Saturday as a 19-plus venue. The weekly schedule features distinct programming formats designed to encourage repeat attendance rather than relying solely on traditional stand-up sets.
Wednesdays feature professional and amateur comedy nights combining local talent with visiting acts. Thursdays host Entertainment Village, an improv format led by business partner Alex Foreman, where guest comedians provide the conversational inspiration for subsequent improvised scenes. Fridays and Saturdays alternate between touring headliners and original productions, including an all-female stand-up showcase, an improv game show, and crowd-work performances.
Among the venue’s proprietary productions is Blind Dates, a live show pairing singles on stage with guidance from a dating expert while the audience provides real-time feedback. The interactive show has previously resulted in six couples forming, including one that celebrated its first anniversary.
Residencies and Venue Ownership Improve Financial Logistics
The intimate floor plan is intended to attract established touring acts by offering multi-show residencies across several days. The venue’s initial residency features comedian John Dore scheduled for a five-show run over five days.
Operating a permanent venue also changes the financial logistics for Park’s production team. Rather than incurring rental fees for outside venues on a show-by-show basis, ticket, food, and merchandise revenue generated at Ok, Dope directly supports the space and its performers.
“When you spend any money here, it is going to go back into this place and pay performers,” Park said.
The operating team conducts post-show reviews following each performance to evaluate audience experience, service, and performer pairings. The venue will also host improv training sessions and creative arts projects outside of its core performance schedule.