Ticketdisaster.org

The best theatres in the UK

If people had to vote for the best theatre in Britain there would be lots of votes for theatres in the West End of London, or the National Theatre by the Thames, or perhaps the beautiful Royal opera House. Those classical fans would certainly go for the exquisitely rebuilt Royal Shakespeare theatres in Stratford upon Avon. Northerners would often plump for the excellent Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester – and many many folks from the UK and abroad would put their vote to the exciting and lively offerings at the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre.

My vote is quite different I think that the very best theatres in the UK are those little theatres offering both professional and amateur theatrical productions, and many of them in the most amazing buildings that, though some are draughty and others sport double glazing, all of them put on theatre to delight their local audiences as well as those further afield.

The Little Theatre Guild represents over 100 member little theatres across the UK and reports that these range from those that can seat 64 up to 450 seats. Some put on only four plays per years and others put on theatre all year round. Altogether these little theatres will have put on in excess of 850 productions to delighted audiences around 650,000 people.

One of my local little theatres is a charming Victorian tiny theatre so small they bring the tea at the interval to the audience on trays as chaos would be cause if everyone got up at the same time! Another favourite is the municipal hall – small with wonderful acoustics and some innovative productions.