Theatre in Northampton

Attracting nearly half a million visitors and participants through its doors each year, the Royal & Derngate Theatre is the jewel in the theatrical crown of Northampton. With a strong programme of drama, music, dance, film and comedy, the theatre also produces its own tailor-made productions under the ‘Made in Northampton’ banner.


The theatre packs in an incredible half a million guests each year thanks to its clever programming, making it one of the busiest and most active theatres for miles around.

Located in the heart of town, the theatre is a 15-minute walk from the train station, 10 minutes from the bus terminal and just three minutes from our Town Centre hotel. If you park at the nearby St. John’s multi-storey and get your ticket validated at the box office, they’ll cap your parking at just a few pounds. There are a host of on-site food and drink outlets ranging from frozen yoghurt bars to John Franklin’s for coffee, cake and a sandwich or Restaurant Hibiscus for high-quality fine dining.

Now home to the Errol Flynn Filmhouse – a two-screen theatre celebrating film from across the world – Royal & Derngate is also home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; an incredible achievement that highlights the hard work and visionary ethos of the theatre.

Lovingly restored to its 1930s glory, The Deco Theatre now houses a stunning Art Deco auditorium for 900 people, as well as two conference spaces, making it a multi-faceted events space that showcases everything from live music to family events.

A 25-minute walk from the train station, or a 10-minute walk from the town’s main bus station or our most central hotel, The Deco is a 15-minute drive from the M1 and serviced by the St. Michael’s carpark.

With a long and colourful history, the theatre hosted icons such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the 60s, and remains one of the biggest venues in the region today. It has a varied programme including international acts and pantomimes, branching out into comedy with the Fawlty Towers and Absolutely Fabulous Dinner Shows.

The smallest of Northampton’s theatres, the Playhouse Theatre doesn’t let its size diminish its ambition. With a stage just 5m wide and 6m deep, it carries all manner of theatrical productions, with the Northampton Theatre Guild presenting five or more shows every year. And with just 86 seats, popular productions sell out fast. Located less than a mile to the northeast of the town centre, just off Kettering Road, the theatre has its own well-stocked in-house bar and is well-served by The Good Loaf and The Artizan for nearby restaurants.