Hulme Hippodrome, Manchester, c. Theatres Trust

Ethan Farmer

Across the UK, theatres are facing their final curtain calls, with once-vibrant cultural hubs now struggling to operate. Mounting financial pressures, shifting audience habits, and the enduring impact of COVID-19 have delivered a severe blow to the industry. With the Theatres Trust announcing that 43 venues are included in this year’s ‘Theatres at Risk Register’ (1), the national press has begun to offer long-overdue coverage of the headlines and stories highlighting the crisis facing UK theatres.

In this July edition of ‘Theatre Today’, we explore the state of the UK theatre scene and just how close the industry is to a crisis. By examining the lasting effects of the pandemic and the growing financial pressures, we aim to shed light on the challenges these venues face, and the urgent support they need to survive.

A Crisis?

It doesn’t take much searching to find reports in the press about theatres closing. Today, there is a steady stream of headlines announcing another closure or appeals for urgent fundraising support. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, 43 venues are currently at risk of shutting their doors, and that number continues to grow. For one of the UK’s most economically and culturally significant sectors, this is a deeply concerning trend that demands urgent attention.

In 2024, the West End drew 17.1 million theatregoers, attracting 2.5 million more than the Premier League, highlighting theatre’s enduring popularity and influence (2). On the surface, the industry appears to be thriving. However, this success masks a growing disparity: while London’s major venues continue to attract large audiences, smaller theatres across the UK are struggling to stay afloat. With lower income from ticket sales and rising operational costs, these regional venues face mounting pressure to survive in an increasingly fragile landscape.

The Pandemic

On the 23rd of March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With people confined to their homes, businesses closed, and the economy under strain, the theatre industry was hit particularly hard. Despite efforts to adapt through digital theatre, audience numbers plummeted, declining by 93% within a single month and resulting in an overall 50% drop over the course of the year. The consequences were severe: the Creative Industries Federation projected a £74 billion loss in revenue and the disappearance of 400,000 jobs across the sector due to the pandemic (3).

Five years later, the arts sector is still grappling with the aftermath, and a full return to pre-Covid conditions remains an unlikely goal. Yet, theatre attendance in the UK has not only recovered but, in some cases, surpassed pre-pandemic levels. London’s West End has re-established itself as a global leader, reportedly attracting five million more visitors than Broadway in its post-Covid recovery (4). Regional theatres have also experienced a strong rebound, with higher occupancy rates and, in some instances, record-breaking attendance figures that exceed those of 2019.

However, despite the encouraging resurgence in audience numbers, the sector continues to grapple with significant financial pressures. Rising costs for production, staffing and energy, alongside a 48% reduction in public funding since 2010, have left many theatres in a vulnerable position (5). Beneath the headlines of recovery lies a fragile financial reality that threatens the long-term sustainability of theatres and touring companies across the UK.

Theatres on the brink: Real stories across the UK

In recent months, numerous theatres have made national headlines as several have closed and issued public appeals for support. The following examples are not comprehensive but highlight some of the venues most frequently featured in the press.

Scotland’s oldest working theatre, the Theatre Royal in Dumfries, has been reported to be at risk, with an urgent need for £30,000 to maintain its full schedule of shows and workshops (6). Run by the Guild of Players, a volunteer-led charity, the theatre is rallying support through its ‘Keep Theatre Live’ campaign, which aims to combat rising costs and preserve this historic space for the community. Similarly, the Riverside Theatre, located on the Ulster University campus and recognised as the oldest operating professional theatre outside of Belfast, is set to close this August after nearly 50 years (7). Facing escalating costs and a substantial need for significant capital investment, the theatre which has long been a pillar of its community stands as a symbol of the silent crisis sweeping through the regions. With these theatres playing such a vital role in their communities, it is clear that the threat they face is not only a danger to the theatre industry itself, but also to the communities that support, depend on, and grow around them.

Another story in the press continuing to make headlines is the precarious situation facing the Grade II-listed Cheltenham Playhouse (8). The Playhouse is facing what trustees call a critical financial situation, where without a significant injection of support, its doors could close. With a high risk of shutdown, this has become a devastating prospect not only for the town’s arts scene, but for smaller theatres nationwide, many of which have already endured years of financial strain.

It’s not just professional venues that are under pressure - arts education is also at serious risk. Reports have confirmed that Tiffany Theatre School in Essex has been forced to close after failing to secure the necessary funding to remain operational (9). Despite its higher education course being oversubscribed for the upcoming September intake, students were met with the devastating news that the school will be closing its doors.

Despite this bleak outlook, there is hope. Communities are rallying together, joined by actors, directors, and playwrights who are lending their voices and talents to public campaigns. From crowdfunding efforts to benefit performances, theatre lovers across the UK are uniting to confront this growing crisis. National organisations such as the Theatres Trust and the ‘Save Our Theatres’ campaign are also stepping in, working to secure emergency funding and push for meaningful policy reform.

Still, theatre cannot survive on passion alone. It depends on committed, engaged audiences to sustain it. Audiences have the power to make a real difference by donating, volunteering, and, most importantly, purchasing tickets in advance, giving theatres the financial confidence they need to survive. While the challenges are significant, the potential for recovery remains strong. If enough of us take action and stand behind these institutions, we can ensure that the curtain does not fall on our theatres, but instead rises again, stronger and more vibrant than ever before.

What’s on in August

Highlights of Warwickshire

The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon (4th-31st August)

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at the Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre in Kenilworth (25th-30th August)

Fat Ham at RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon (15th August–13th September)

Highlights of London:

A Man for All Seasons at the Harold Pinter Theatre (6th August-6th September)

Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile: The Musical at Regent Park’s Open Air Theatre (15th August-7th September)

Grease at Evolution London – Battersea Park (1st August-7th September)

Highlights of the rest of the UK:

Mary Poppins at the Birmingham Hippodrome (22nd July-23rd August)

2:22 A Ghost Story at the Manchester Opera House (7th-16th August)

Death Comes to Pemberly at the Theatre Royal Bath (5th-9th August)

References

Theatre Today: An Urgent Call to Save our Stages

Submit an enquiry to us

Theatre Today: An Urgent Call to Save our Stages

Redefining the art space: Midlands Arts Centre

Submit an enquiry to us