The Bricks and Mortar

The Alhambra Theatre is regarded as the North's premier receiving venue and hosts the best in large scale entertainment from international dance to musicals, drama and Yorkshire's biggest panto. The Alhambra Theatre, the jewel in Bradford’s crown, was the vision of Francis Laidler, a local impresario. Laidler had the idea and vision to build a brand new theatre in 1912 and it was two years later that his dream was realised. It remains an iconic venue, attracting the very best in star names and live entertainment to the city of Bradford.      

Over 750,000 people a year engage with Curve through performances and projects at their home in Leicester, across the UK and internationally. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Curve has developed a reputation for producing, programming and touring a bold and diverse programme of musicals, plays, new work, dance and opera.   

John Gielgud made the first of 15 appearances at the theatre in a short-lived farce entitled Holding Out the Apple in 1928. Since then, the Gielgud Theatre has hosted the likes of Judi Dench, who after a ten year break from theatre work gave a performance of the Countess in All's Well That Ends Well, described as a 'masterclass in classical acting'. In 2019, whilst the adjoining Sondheim Theatre was undergoing a major refurbishment, Les Misérables: The All-Star Staged Concert played for a summer, starring Alfie Boe and Michae Ball as Jean Val Jean and Javert.      

First opened in 1962, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is a pioneering arts complex for everyone. Their mission: to make art an important part of people’s lives. Located in Cannon Hill Park, just two miles south of the city centre, they attract over 1,000,000 visits every year, drawing audiences from across the UK and beyond.      

The Noël Coward Theatre, on St Martin’s Lane, is known so because in 1920, it was here that Noël Coward made his West End debut. It is now home to Dear Evan Hansen. The theatre has played host to Laurence Olivier in The School for Scandal, King Richard III and Antigone and was also where in 1960, Oliver! opened on 30 June with an advance of just £145. The opening cast included Ron Moody as Fagin, Georgia Brown as Nancy and Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry. The show ran until September 1967.      

The Old Vic is an artistic powerhouse with a strong social mission that for over two centuries has remained at the centre of its civic, creative and cultural community. And now, during this period of closure, the theatre is once again working to stay meaningfully connected with all its audiences, from online workshops for young people, resources for schools and a cross-generational Pen Pal scheme to free archive recordings and shows live-streamed from the stage.       

Sitting between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, there has always been a theatre on the site of the Prince of Wales Theatre since 1884. Currently home to The Book of Mormon, the theatre is noted for hosting some of the world's greatest entertainers including Danny La Rue who made history appearing as Dolly in Hello Dolly! in 1983. 1966 saw the transfer of Funny Girl from Broadway for a short run with the new young star Barbra Streisand in the leading role of Fanny Brice. One of the songs from the show, 'People', went on to become a Top 10 hit.      

Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre has provided world-class accessible theatre for audiences on the Yorkshire coast since 1955. It has produced almost 700 plays, many of them new – developing new writers and writing was the primary aim of the company’s founder, Stephen Joseph, and it remains one of their core aims. The SJT was the first professional theatre-in-the round in the UK, and is widely known for presenting the world premieres of most of Alan Ayckbourn’s 84 full-length plays. It also has an extensive community programme. 

The Theatre operates as a theatre, an arthouse cinema, a gallery, a concert hall, a resource for the community and a professional venue. Treasured both locally and nationally it is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds and is well worth a visit.        

The Grade II listed Trafalgar Theatre (formerly known as Trafalgar Studios) is the result of a major multi-million-pound restoration project which includes a new single auditorium at an increased capacity and a larger stage. The venue has been reinstated back to its original heritage design, but with all new seats, and an enhanced customer experience throughout the venue including a new stalls bar, new spacious foyer and additional toilets. It has been announced that hit musical Jersey Boys opens July 2021.

From the original London production of Annie to Billy Elliot and Hamilton, the Victoria Palace Theatre has played host to some of the world's most popular musicals. If you’re in Victoria, see you if you can spot the gilded statue of ballerina Anna Pavlova that sits atop the theatre. The original statue was removed for safekeeping during World War II but subsequently lost. The Pulitzer prize winning Hamilton re-opened the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2017 following a major 20-month redevelopment in which Cameron Mackintosh worked to restore the theatre to its former Matcham glory.  

Wyndham’s Theatre opened at the turn of the 20th Century in 1899 and has since played host to some of the world’s greatest actors. When her dad managed the theatre, Daphne du Mauriere would sit in the wings and watch the magic unfold. The theatre reopened in 2008 following a four month refurbishment with a year-long season presented by the Donmar Warehouse starring the likes of Judi Dench, Jude Law, Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh. More recently, you may have seen artists such as Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave appear here.      

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, built in 1965, is one of the country's leading regional theatres - second to none for top quality entertainment. Joanna Read became Director and Chief Executive in 2019. Her vision for the future theatre takes it back to the past, in some ways, with a return to producing and touring; bringing exciting new companies to the town and restoring the theatre building, dusting it off and rediscovering this stylish 1965 architectural gem.