New Theatre

Looking back at how Theatres Trust has helped Peterborough New Theatre 

Theatres being converted to cinema use is a very familiar tale, but the New Theatre in Peterborough is a case where the building began as a cinema before becoming a theatre. Built in 1927, it was one of the original cinemas in the Odeon chain and its magnificent original Art Deco interior survives.

In 2001 it was redeveloped as a theatre, The Broadway, with a platform stage built within the original proscenium, creating one of the largest venues in the region, ideal for hosting large-scale national touring productions, comedy, and music. The theatre closed following a major fire in 2009, opened sporadically, and was then under threat of redevelopment for housing in 2016, at which point we added it to our Theatres at Risk Register.

Theatres Trust strongly objected to these proposals and gave advice to Peterborough Civic Society and other local support groups on campaigning for the building and having it included on the list of Buildings of Local Importance. Thankfully the planning application was refused on the grounds we had argued, namely that the venue had not been proven to be unviable and its loss would deprive the people of Peterborough of an important facility.

The following years saw a change to the leaseholder to the Dawe Charitable Trust and the theatre reopening under a new operator, although sadly it was only temporary as the operator ceased trading in 2018. Dawe Charitable Trust reopened the theatre itself and we continued to provide support to look for a longer-term solution to create a sustainable venue.In March 2019 Selladoor Worldwide announced it would be taking on the management of the theatre, with plans to undertake work to improve the auditorium and front of house.

With funding from our Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Grants Programme the Dawe Charitable Trust commissioned a structural survey of its fibrous plaster ceiling, a vital step in ensuring the theatre was fit for future audiences. In September 2019, the theatre reopened as Peterborough New theatre, with a programme of quality large-scale theatre productions, and we removed it from the Theatres at Risk Register the following January.

This case study was produced as part of our Fifty@50 campaign to mark our 50th anniversary in 2026.

Photo credit: Ian Grundy