Theatres Trust

Large historic auditorium of Morecambe Winter Gardens with ornate gold plasterwork on the ceiling and boxes.

Exterior of Spilsby Sessions House, a former gaol with a classical facade with columns.

Excellent news today for two #TheatresAtRisk 🎉

Morecambe Winter Gardens and Spilsby Sessions House receive funding through Historic England's Heritage at Risk Capital Fund to carry out vital work

We are proud support both on their journey towards revival

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...

Project Manager Required — Leith Theatre Leith Theatre Trust is looking for an experienced Project Manager to help lead one of Edinburgh’s most exciting capital projects and support our second round National Lottery Heritage Fund application...

Exciting opportunity to play an important role in the next step in @leiththeatre.bsky.social's journey towards revival

Leith Theatre is on our #TheatresAtRisk Register

www.leiththeatre.co.uk/news-feature...

Side view of historic theatre auditorium, showing part of the stage with a dark red curtain, rows of bright red seats in the stalls and dress circle and balconies and box with cream and gold plasterwork.

We've been advising King's Theatre in Southsea on its plans to integrate neighbouring shop units to improve its front-of-house space, make the theatre more accessible and create a second performance studio

Good news - planning permission has been granted

Small historic auditorium of the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, N Yorks

Modern auditorium with rows of red seats at Cast in Doncaster

Full audience in large historic auditorium at Leeds Grand, viewed from the upper circle.

Happy Yorkshire Day

The UK’s largest historic county is home to a huge array of theatres. Here are a few that we've supported to through our Theatre Improvement Scheme in association with the Wolfson Foundation, which is now open for applications.

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...

Two performers on stage in front of a full audience in the small auditorium of Unity Theatre. The graphic has the words Seating's Second Act in the top right corner and logos for Race Furniture and Theatres Trust in the bottom left corner.

🎉 We are thrilled to announce that Liverpool’s @unitytheatre.bsky.social is the winner of Seating’s Second Act, our partnership with Race Furniture

The seating revamp will improve audience experience + accessibility and increase flexible auditorium use

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

the word congratulations is surrounded by confetti and fireworks Alt: the word congratulations is surrounded by confetti and fireworks

🥳 Congratulations to this year's nominees for UK Theatre's Most Welcoming Theatre:

Birmingham Rep
Shakespeare North Playhouse and @royalderngate.bsky.social (the only one on BlueSky so a winner already)

🎭 It's been a while, but we've just updated our Theatres Starter Pack

Quite a range of new additions @theeat.bsky.social @crescenttheatre.bsky.social @stratfordeast.com @cambridgejunction.bsky.social @trplymouth.bsky.social @nationaltheatre.org.uk @mayflower.org.uk

bsky.app/starter-pack...

Of course, thanks for the nudge - it was overdue an update

Olivier Theatre auditorium at the National Theatre

Statue of Laurence Olivier in his role as Hamlet

🎭 Often hailed as the greatest actor ever, Laurence Olivier died on this day in 1989.

He was the first Director of the National Theatre, which paid tribute to him, naming its largest auditorium after him, and a statue of him in the role of Hamlet marks the way to the theatre

📸 Ian Grundy

E-newsletter with Theatres Trust logo at the top, headline July NewsDigest and various articles and theatre images

📢 We sent out our monthly newsletter yesterday with news for theatres and updates on our work

Sign up here to stay up to date
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/newsletter

North Pier Theatre (now the Joe Longthorne Theatre) in Blackpool at dusk

Happy #NationalSeasideDay 🏖️

Today we are celebrating a particular type of theatre – the pier theatre

An important part of seaside economies from 1860s but from WW2 many became neglected

There are now only 6 pier theatres left in the UK

@seasidenetwork.bsky.social

Performers on stage at Centre Stage

Tour of Leith Theatre

Today is our Scottish birthday 🎂

#OnThisDay in 1978 Theatres Trust (Scotland) Act gave us our remit as a statutory consultee for applications relating to theatres/performance venues

But we also support Scottish theatre with advice, grants and through our #TheatreAtRisk list

Group of people on stage at Soho Theatre Walthamstow

🙏 Huge thanks @sohotheatre.bsky.social for hosting our team away day yesterday

A perfect example of the impact of our long-term work, Soho Theatre Walthamstow was the ideal setting for discussing our future plans to support the whole theatre sector

Theatres Trust team is out and about today - a few of us are at UK Theatre conference and our Head of Buildings Claire is at the London Climate Action Week event

Say hi 👋 if you are at either event too

Creative Industries Sector Plan Theatres Trust responds to the plan published as part of the government's Industrial Strategy.

Creative Industries Sector Plan: We welcome the government’s focus investment in innovation and skills, which are vital to the UK’s theatre sector maintaining its position as a world leader

Read our full statement
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...
#IndustrialStrategy #CreativeIndustries

Plymouth Palace Theatre is on our #TheatresAtRisk Register and we've had discussions with Historic England and the council about restoring this wonderful building.

Thanks @lukepollard.bsky.social for raising its profile again

Read more about the theatre www.theatrestrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...

#LCAW2025 London Climate Action Week 21-29 June 2025

Plan ahead: Climate Resilience for London's Cultural Venues, Tues 24 June, BFI Southbank.

We're delighted to be a partner for this workshop, part of London Climate Action Week #LCAW2025

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/plan-ahead...

Spending Review 2025 - our view We look at what the Chancellor's announcement means for the theatre sector.

While investment in the arts was not specifically mentioned in the #SpendingReview, we welcome the government’s commitment to investing in Britain’s future and we are optimistic that there were initiatives announced today that could benefit the sector.

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

Webinar Theatre Operations: Martyn's Law and maintenance plans. 4 July 2025 12 to 1.30pm.

Join us for on 4 July for webinar Theatre Operations: Martyn’s Law and maintenance plans

What theatres should be thinking about now to prepare for the security law coming into force + two theatres share approaches to developing maintenance plans

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/event...

Group of staff and trustees on an awayday. Text reads Theatres Trust. Join our Board of Trustees. Communications & Marketing, Creative Industries Leadership, Architecture

📣 One week left to apply to be one of our new Trustees.

We are looking for 3 passionate advocates for theatre with expertise in one of these areas:

Communications and Marketing
Creative Industries Leadership
Architecture

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

Large historic theatre auditorium in use as a bingo hall

Theatres Trust has added its voice to the objections about a change of use at Streatham Hill Theatre @streathamhillt.bsky.social which is on our #TheatresAtRisk Register

Read our full response
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/plann...

Local Theatre Touring Alliance with an up arrow

🎭 Have you joined the Local Theatre Touring Alliance yet?

If you run a professional theatre with main auditorium of c300-800 seats, they'd love to hear from you.

Join for free and complete survey
Survey deadline: Friday 30 May

localtheatretouringalliance.com

Interested in joining our Board?

Come to our webinar on Thurs 22 May at 6pm where our Chair Dave Moutrey will talk about the roles and responsibilities in more detail and give any potential Trustees the chance to ask questions before applying.

Sign up here www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/event...

The Grade II-listed Derby Hippodrome was demolished over the weekend. A tragic loss of heritage — and troubling timing.

Bulldozer and a worrying pile of rubble in front of what remains of a historic theatre building

☹️We are devastated by the news that demolition work began on Derby Hippodrome, one of our #TheatresAtRisk, over the weekend, following another fire in the Grade II listed building

Read our full statement

📸 Ashley Ainsworth
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

Join Us | British Music Hall Society If you are interested in entertainment past and present, why not join our Society?

Enjoying #MusicHallVarietyDay?
Why not join the British Music Hall Society? We’ve been preserving and celebrating this tradition for over 60 years — and with your help, we’ll be here for 60 more.
britishmusichallsociety.com/join-us

Cover of Walthamstow Palace Theatre programme, 1909.

Page from Walthamstow Palace Theatre programme, 1909.

Walthamstow Palace Theatre programme, 1909. The Palace opened in Walthamstow High Street in 1903 and was a popular venue on the music hall circuit. From 1952 it was a drama playhouse, but this did not flourish. The Palace closed in 1954 & was demolished in 1960. #MusicHallVarietyDay #MHVD2025

Illustrated poster with exterior of pub music hall in the centre with text reading John Balmbra, Licensed retailer of foreign and British spirits, wines, home brewed ales, also serving sparkling Edinbrg Burton & other ales. Royal Promenade Music Saloon open every evening. Wheat Sheaf Inn, Cloth Market, Newcastle on Tyne

Happy #MusicHallVarietyDay

Here is a poster from our archives advertising Balmbra's Music Hall in the Wheatsheaf Pub, Newcastle.

The popular local song 'Blaydon Races' was first performed here in 1862 and mentions Blambra's
#MHVD2025

database.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/th...

#MusicHallVarietyDay today

Get involved with your music hall and variety memories

#MHVD2025

Local Theatre Touring Alliance Strengthening theatre in towns and smaller cities across the UK

Local Theatre Touring Alliance is kickstarting its work with a national survey of venue managers, to build a clear, data-driven picture of the sector's needs and to identify practical solutions that can be scaled and shared

Take the survey here localtheatretouringalliance.com