East

Bedfordshire

• Arena Touring Theatre Company

  Theatre-in-education company touring schools, village halls and theatres across the East and South East.

  
  
• Bedford Corn Exchange

  Multi-purpose venue hosting music, dance comedy and orchestral performances.

  
  
• Bedford School Theatre

  Campus venue which serves as arts & entertainment venue for the local community.

  
  
• Bowen West Theatre

  New 280-seater venue, with smaller studio theatre, opened September 2007 on university campus.

  
  
• Full House Theatre Company

  Creates musical theatre for family audiences in conventional and unconventional theatre spaces, using classic storytelling techniques, original music and giant puppetry.

  
  
• Grove Theatre

  Part of the Grove Park complex, the auditorium seats 780 people on two levels and offer a mixed entertainment programme.

  
  
• Leighton Buzzard Theatre

  Small scale theatre and cinema, running Adventures in Theatre youth group and Sparx Theatre Company for people with special needs.

  
  
• Library Theatre Luton

  Small council-owned theatre hosting a mix of amateur and professional companies.

  
  
• Osagyefo Theatre Company

  African arts-in-education company organising workshops and performances, focusing mainly on African religion, history, visual art, drama, storytelling, music and dance.

  
  
• Scamp Theatre

  Scamp Theatre produce original work, collaborate with venues and companies as well as offering general arts management services.

  
  
• Sharnbrook Mill Theatre

  Former millhouse, now owned by Sharnbrook Mill Theatre Trust.

  
  
• The Hat Factory

  The Hat Factory is Luton's major arts and entertainment venue, featuring featuring live music, club nights, theatre, dance, films, children's activities, workshops, classes and gallery exhibitions. Classes include street dance, capoeira and theatre. Taking part in A Night Less Ordinary, offering some free theatre tickets for under-26s.

  
  
• The Place

  Small venue, offering performance, rehearsal and meeting spaces to local theatre and voluntary groups.

  
  
• UK Centre for Carnival Arts

  The UK Centre for Carnival Arts was launched in Luton in March 2009 and provides a pioneering space for UK carnival sector to raise the status of and access to carnival arts. It aims to attract the world’s leading carnival artists with residencies and training opportunities, providing skills and business training in the fields of music, stagecraft and performance. The centre also offers a foundation degree in Carnival Arts with the University of Bedfordshire.

  
  

Cambridgeshire

• ADC Theatre

  Main theatre space for the University of Cambridge which hosts university, local and professional drama groups.

  
  
• Artsgenerate

  Arts Council England East’s partnership scheme with local authorities and the Local Government Arts Forum (LGAF).

  
  
• Broadway Theatre, Peterborough

  Fomer cinema house, now hosts a range of touring music and theatre perfomances.

  
  
• Cambridge Arts Theatre

  Hosts touring companies and offers a range of educational and community access events.

  
  
• Cambridge Corn Exchange and Guildhall

  Versatile auditorium which can accommodate up to 1,400, alongside two smaller performance spaces.

  
  
• Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination

  Mixed-media arts company working with children and the community.

  
  
• Cambridge Touring Theatre

  Family theatre company touring East Anglian schools, theatres and community venues.

  
  
• Classworks Theatre

  Classworks, now in its 24th year, is based at The Junction in Cambridge. It runs three youth theatre groups for ages 11-18 and a professional theatre company which tours nationally.

  
  
• Hoipolloi

  A Cambridge-based theatre company, creating its own shows and touring them internationally. Hoipolloi started life in 1994 and since then its created productions involving marriages, funerals, alien bakers, ghosts, detectives, ogres and Pobbles with no toes. Offers a year-long internship. Runs workshops for schools and colleges.

  
  
• Horseshoe Theatre Company

  Professional company taking productions of set texts and masterclasses to secondary school audiences.

  
  
• In situ

  Professional company who often tour, exploring the use of non-theatre spaces, as well as offering short and longer term workshops.

  
  
• Libra Theatre

  Work with mixed-ability actors and aim to produce challenging theatre of a professional standard.

  
  
• Menagerie Theate Company

  Produces new professional theatre, supports new writers and artists through workshops.

  
  
• Mumford Theatre

  266-seater university theatre in the heart of the Anglia Ruskin campus, presenting a range of professional touring, local community and student theatre.

  
  
• Peterborough Key Theatre

  Auditorium seats 379 and offers a programme of amateur productions, national touring shows and one-off concerts.

  
  
• The Cresset

  Multi-purpose theatre and community venue offering touring productions and perfoming arts programmes.

  
  
• The Junction

  The Junction has been Cambridge’s centre for young people and the arts since 1990 and offers a lively programme of music, theatre, comedy and dance. Participatory activities include Cambridgeshire Youth Dance Company (CYDC) and CLASH Youth Theatre as well as regular masterclasses and ongoing artist development opportunities. Offers some free theatre tickets for under-26s through A Night Less Ordinary.

  
  

Essex

• 15/8 Company

  Small theatre-in-education company which also runs workshops and youth theatre classes.

  
  
• Act-Ed Productions

  Teaching resources for the performing arts & drama, workshops and guest lecturers/ speakers

  
  
• Ape Theatre Company

  Work with young writers, directors and performers taking issue-based productions and workshops around school and community venues.

  
  
• Brentwood Theatre

  Community theatre with occassional professional shows.

  
  
• Chelmsford Civic Theatre

  Programmes a wide variety of entertainment including: concerts, plays, ballet, pantomime, opera, jazz, dance, musicals, comedy, film and live music.

  
  
• Civic Theatre, Chelmsford

  505-seat auditorium which offers a varied programme of large scale professional, touring and amateur events.

  
  
• Colchester Arts Centre

  Theatre, comedy, club and music venue.

  
  
• Corbett Theatre

  This venue was created by dismantling a medieval tithe barn, reassembling it as a unique performance space with full technical facilities, tiered seating for 125 people and fitted dressing rooms. It is the campus theatre of East 15.

  
  
• Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford

  Intimate studio theatre seating up to 177 and presenting a programme of smaller scale professional touring theatre, music productions, dance and lunchtime concerts.

  
  
• Cut To The Chase

  Ensemble company of actor-musicians based at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch.

  
  
• HENS Theatre Company

  Small theatre-in-education company taking issue-based productions to local schools.

  
  
• Impetuous Kinship

  Impetuous Kinship is committed to exploring the boundaries of the theatrical experience by blurring the barriers between physical theatre, storytelling, music and new technologies. It is committed to giving 'new life' to old literature along with encouraging new writers to challenge audiences by encouraging new ways of presenting language within the theatrical environment.

  
  
• Kenneth More Theatre

  Main auditorium and studio theatre presents a mixture of amateur, visiting professional shows and professional in house productions.

  
  
• Lakeside Theatre, University of Essex

  Committed to showcasing new writing and host to professional touring companies as well as student productions.

  
  
• London Bus Theatre Company

  Theatre-in-education company taking issue-based productions to school groups.

  
  
• Mercury Theatre, Colchester

  Home of the Mercury Theatre Company, touring productions including comedy, music and theatre are also hosted. The theatre prides itself on its community and education activities, which include playwriting surgeries, parents and toddler sessions, over-50s groups, after-school drama clubs and youth theatres. Some free theatre tickets for under-26s through A Night Less Ordinary scheme.

  
  
• Playhouse Harlow

  Hosting theatre with a wide programme and home to the Playhouse Theatre Company and Theatre School.

  
  
• Princes Theatre, Clacton-on-Sea

  Multi-purpose venue for live entertainment, hosting a range of concerts, shows and community activities.

  
  
• Queens Theatre, Hornchurch

  Producing theatre offering education and outreach programmes with its resident company Cut To The Chase.

  
  
• Real Circumstance

  Real Circumstance was set up in 2005 and is a theatre company supported by the Mercury Theatre, Colchester.

  
  
• SouthEnd Theatres (Cliff's Pavilion and Palace Theatre)

  SouthEnd Theatres looks after the Cliffs Pavilion and The Palace Theatre. Both have a major commitment to running participatory events for young people, which include workshops and talks linked to productions, work experience placements for Year 10s and above, backstage tours and opportunities for student reviewers. Some free tickets for under-26s through A Night Less Ordinary scheme. The programme at both venues includes theatre, dance, music, comedy and children’s shows.

  
  
• Stage One Theatre Company

  Musical theatre company, working in south east London and Essex, offering oportunities to help out backstage and front of house.

  
  
• Thameside Theatre, Grays

  Thameside Theatre is part of the Thameside Complex, a multi-purpose arts venue including the theatre, museum, library and an exhibition area. Its programme includes music, dance, theatre, children’s shows, comedy and light entertainment.

  
  
• Theatre Resource

  Theatre Resource is one of the largest ‘disabled-led’ arts organisations in the UK and the only one to own and operate its own arts education centre. Its services include outreach events in Essex, Herts and East London, training courses, touring productions and employment opportunities for disabled people and people from other socially excluded groups.

  
  
• theBROADWAY, Barking

  Previously known as The Broadway Theatre, this venue has now been completely modernised and its aim to improve access to arts facilities. The basement houses a large education suite including a dance studio, music teaching rooms, stagecraft workshop, recording studio, drama and technology rooms, for the Barking College School of Performing Arts. BYTe runs youth theatre classes, mainly on Saturdays, for ages from six up to 21. Auditions are held in September.

  
  
• Third Edge

  Provides theatre-in-education, story-telling workshops and youth theatre services.

  
  
• Tilted Productions

  Dance theatre company combining captivating theatricality and a unique use of set and props.

  
  
• Towngate Theatre

  Venue for local performance arts schools and amateur production groups as well as touring shows.

  
  
• Westcliffe Theatre and Arts Centre

  Volunteer-run community arts venue hosting visiting guests and local companies.

  
  

Hertfordshire

• Court Theatre

  Community theatre offering a mix of amateur productions and visiting artists.

  
  
• Ever After Theatre Company

  Christian story-telling touring company taking productions round the country.

  
  
• Gordon Craig Theatre and Main Hall, Stevenage

  501-seat theatre and 1,200-seat auditorium with a varied programme of live entertainment.

  
  
• Harpenden HeARTS Theatre Company

  Small professional company based at the Harpenden Public Halls.

  
  
• Harpenden Public Halls

  440-seat theatre, home to Harpenden HeARTS theatre company.

  
  
• Market Theatre, Hitchin

  Small scale professional theatre, showcasing work by new writers and uses a mixture of new aspiring thespians alongside established & professional theatre performers. The main auditorium theatre auditorium seats between 51 and 65 and there is an even smaller studio theatre!

  
  
• Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead

  Grade II listed building constructed in 1852, now a performing arts venue with community outreach branch.

  
  
• Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre

  Small venue hosting live music and arts events for the local community.

  
  
• Shattered Windscreen

  Professional company taking classic productions on tour throughout the Home Counties.

  
  
• Theatre Is...

  Theatre Is… makes new theatre for and with young people. Based at the University of Hertfordshire in Hadfield, the company uses new technology to broaden participation in the arts.

  
  
• Trestle Arts Base

  Trestle Arts Base is a 100-year-old chapel converted into a performing arts centre. It is home to Trestle Theatre Company and offers a programme of theatre, dance, music and comedy for all ages. Also hosts a wide variety of classes and workshops, exhibitions by local artists and community events.

  
  
• Trestle Theatre Company

  Trestle collaborates with UK and international artists to create physical storytelling theatre with diverse cultural expression and has been touring devised theatre across the UK and abroad since 1981. Trestle Taking Part offers a programme of workshops, residencies and training in diverse theatre forms throughout the UK and beyond.

  
  
• Watford Palace Theatre

  The Watford Palace is one of only three producing theatres in the East of England. It aims to develop inclusive, accessible plays about the way we live which have the potential to change the way we look at things. The Palace Youth Theatre is based at the venue and Hertfordshire County Youth Theatre is also run from there, in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council. The theatre has a reputation for quality productions, some of which transfer to the West End or tour nationally. Workshops for adults and schools are also offered

  
  

Norfolk

• Britannia Pier Theatre

  Hosts music and comedy touring artists.

  
  
• Broad Horizons Theatre Company

  Small theatre company taking established and new writing to small and medium sized theatres, rural and school venues.

  
  
• Garlic Theatre

  Visual theatre company that uses image, puppet animation, movement and live music.

  
  
• Gorleston Pavillion Theatre

  Original 300-seat Edwardian venue staging plays, pantos, musicals and a music hall "summer season".

  
  
• King's Lynn Arts Centre

  Housed in one of England's oldest surviving guildhalls, the Kings Lynn Arts Centre hosts a wide programme of comedy, drama, music, dance, cinema, and visual arts.

  
  
• King's Lynn Corn Exchange

  The Victorian Grade II listed Kings Lynn Corn Exchange is a large multi purpose venue attracting touring shows including comedy, music, dance, ballet and musicals.

  
  
• Maddermarket Theatre

  Venue for professional tours and concerts, as well as local companies.

  
  
• Norfolk & Norwich Festival

  Prestigious annual arts festival (jazz, classical music, comedy and dance) taking place every May, with a major commitment to creative learning. The 2009 festival created opportunities for 13,000 young people to get involved.

  
  
• Norwich Arts Centre

  According to its website, it all started in 1976 when a small group of enthusiasts wanted to open an alternative venue for visual and performing arts. Launching a year later in an old carpet factory, the centre has occupied St Swithin’s Church since 1980. It now boasts a multi-media department, running regular courses and exhibitions as well as music, film, theatre, dance, comedy, performance art and children’s activities. Current courses include a book group, animation, viral film making, jazz, creative writing and tango.

  
  
• Norwich Playhouse

  The Playhouse is the most modern performance space of its size in East Anglia and attracts nationally recognised names in comedy, music, jazz, dance and drama. There are regular opportunities for young people to take part in theatre and dance projects and the centre has just become an Arts Award Welcome Venue.

  
  
• Norwich Puppet Theatre

  Nationally unique venue dedicated to puppetry, housing a 197-seat raked auditorium and a 50-seat Octagon Studio theatre.

  
  
• Norwich Theatre Royal

  Major receiving house, which actively promotes a range of courses and week-long work placements in the technical and administrative departments for students, as well as those outside of formal education. Holds regular dance workshops and long-running schools projects throughout the year. Its programme includes drama, musical theatre, comedy, light entertainment, opera, children’s show and music.

  
  
• Pavillion Theatre, Cromer

  510-seater venue perched on the end of Cromer Pier. The theatre hosts end-of-the-pier shows together with comedy, music, dance, opera, musicals and community shows.

  
  
• Princess Theatre & Cinema, Hunstanton

  Newly refurbished theatre hosting a programme of events including films, music, theatre, concerts and musicals.

  
  
• Seachange Arts

  Arts development organisation working across a range of art forms, mostly with young people.

  
  
• Sheringham Little Theatre

  The Little Theatre offers a programme of shows, films, music, celebrity evenings, children's events, workshops, art exhibitions, literature events and education and outreach. Every summer there is a professional weekly repertory season including plays, comedies, thrillers, classics and farces.

  
  
• The Garage

  The Garage is a creative industries training and performance venue situated in the heart of Norwich. Its state of the art facilities are home to a wide range of workshops, holiday activities, performance groups, festivals, performances, accreditation opportunities and careers related events.

  
  

Suffolk

• Aldeburgh Music

  Aldeburgh Music runs four performance venues and numerous rehearsal rooms at Snape Maltings, the Aldeburgh Festival in June and Snape Proms in August, the Britten–Pears Young Artist Programme and Aldeburgh Young Musicians (for school aged children) as well as residencies and masterclasses.

  
  
• DanceEast

  The national dance agency for the east of England. Runs youth dance companies, classes and workshops as well as working with young people via schools and hospitals.

  
  
• Eastern Angles

  Formed in Ipswich in 1982, Eastern Angles is the regional touring theatre company for East Anglia and is based at the Sir John Mills Theatre. Throughout the year, it tours to Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and beyond with new writing, often with a regional flavour. Each year, New Angles gives the chance for young people aged between 18 and 25 to be part of an exciting new theatre project As well as a spring tour and an autumn tour, it presents an occasional site-specific show. Has a dedicated team of volunteers, known as the Eastern Angels, who carry out front of house and administrative duties.

  
  
• Haverhill Arts Centre

  Houses a 210-seater auditorium and offers a wide programme of live theatre, dance, music and film.

  
  
• Ipswich Corn Exchange

  Its Grand Hall is used for shows by touring companies and local groups.

  
  
• Ipswich Regent

  East Anglia's largest theatre, hosts West End shows, comedy and music.

  
  
• Marina Theatre, Lowestoft

  Hosts West End shows, classical concerts and ballet, as well as shows by its resident youth theatre.

  
  
• New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

  In the heart of Ipswich, The New Wolsey Theatre hosts touring productions as well as co-producing drama and musical theatre with other regional theatres nationally. It has strong links with its local community and runs regular education workshops and touring shows specially tailored for schools. Pulse, an annual fringe festival, showcases new and emerging talent. Regular workshops include sessions for writers, youth theatres and Trade Secrets talks on making professional theatre.

  
  
• Quay Theatre at Sudbury

  A small-scale theatre presenting a mixed programme for local audiences.

  
  
• Romany Theatre Company

  Touring company with the twin aims of empowering young Romany people by involving them in theatre and challenging negative views of the Romany way of life.

  
  
• Spa Pavillion, Felixstowe

  Large receiving theatre, hosting a wide range of touring productions.

  
  
• The Riverside

  Theatre and cinema venue hosting a mixed programme of entertainment.

  
  
• Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

  This Grade 1 listed playhouse is the only surviving example of a Regency theatre in this country and Stephen Fry and Dame Judy Dench are both big fans. The programme includes drama, music, dance and light entertainment and there is also a wide range of educational and community activities. As part of the ReVisit programme, the theatre presents regular productions and rehearsed readings of plays written at the time it first opened its doors and aims to do for Georgian theatre what the Globe has done for Shakespeare.

  
  
• Wonderful Beast

  Storytelling theatre company which dramatises myths, legends, folk and fairy tales through productions, storytelling performances and outreach workshops.