We are delighted to welcome a new Member to the LTG, The Joseph Rowntree Theatre in York. The background to the theatre is HERE on their website but in summary, their theatre is a Grade II listed theatre, built by the Rowntree Village Trust in 1935.

It is a proscenium theatre, with 365 seats and full stage facilities, including the ability to fly scenery. They note that they are “evolving our theatre into a vibrant community hub and creating new and exciting opportunities for more local people to get involved. Whilst the performing arts remain at the heart of what we do, we passionately believe that by opening up our theatre, more people from our neighbouring communities and across the City of York will be excited and inspired.”

The theatre opened post-COVID on 21 May with The Bev Jones Music Company performing Strictly Cabaret. This will be followed on 13 June with the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company, the theatre’s inhouse performing team, staging An Evening of Musical Comedy Highlights to be followed at the end of July by two semi-staged musical classics: Gilbert and Sullivan’s biggest hits, HMS Pinafore and The Mikado.

Like many LTG Theatres, they are embarking on a major capital project to raise money to fund their theatre expansion and create multiple-use spaces. We wish them well and we are sure that there are a number of LTG Theatres that can offer advice on such a project.

Anne Gilmour