Theatre in Nottingham

Attracting over half a million guests a year, the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall are two of the biggest theatre venues in the Midlands. Under the Theatre Royal banner, the complex is home to the Victorian-era theatre and the Royal Concert Hall which was finished in 1982. Across the two venues, you can expect a diverse range of programming including touring dramas, ballet, pantomime, opera, stand-up comedy, rock and pop gigs and West End musicals.

The Theatre Royal, built in 1865, is a four-tiered auditorium complete with stalls, dress circle, upper circle and balcony, and has space for 3,000 people. There are seven bars on site including the Green Room Café Bar on the ground floor, while the complex has its own stop on the Nottingham Express Transit tram line.

One of the UK’s most successful theatres, the Nottingham Playhouse has been putting on shows since its creation in 1948. A modernist building in the heart of Nottingham and just across the road from our City Centre (Chapel Bar) hotel, it’s one of the city’s major landmarks thanks to its Sky Mirror, a stunning sculpture and installation at the front of the theatre.

A producing theatre, they’ve taken their shows across the world; their production of 1984 played on Broadway in 2017 while they’ve had other shows running in Hong Kong, Oslo, America and London. The modern interior houses a traditional-looking theatre that can hold 770 guests, and comes with the Playhouse Bar, Café, and Kitchen and Deli, offering a range of food and drinks throughout the day and into the evening.

Part of the University of Nottingham’s public arts programme, Lakeside Arts Centre is a fascinating arts complex that houses several galleries and cafés, and a museum and visitor centre. The site attracts over 200,000 visitors each year thanks to its diverse range of events including exhibitions, workshops, Q&A sessions and performances.

With a capacity of 300 in the cool Hockley area, Nottingham Arts Theatre is a fully functioning theatre equipped with an orchestra pit, proscenium arch and excellent café bar that’s a reason to visit on its own. They host a variety of shows, both professional and amateur, including versions of Romeo and Juliet, Animal Farm and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.