Epstein Theatre

Significance

Constructed in 1913, the Epstein Theatre was originally conceived as a concert hall (the Crane Hall) for instrumental recitals for the music shop it was built above. The upper levels of the five-storey Crane Building contained associated offices. The hall was soon converted into a theatre through expansion and construction of a fly tower and stage within a neighbouring building.

It is a handsome stone and brick building with a canted corner bay announcing the theatre entrance. Internally, the theatre is decorated with mahogany panels and plaster detail. The intimate auditorium is almost square, with a flat panelled ceiling with centre cluster of lights. The upper parts of the wall are decorated with fluted Ionic pilasters, modillioned cornices and busts of famous composers in wreaths. Lower parts are panelled in mahogany with a Greek key frieze. There is a small balcony with panelled front. Urn decorations above the doors are echoed in the square proscenium decoration at the sides.

The building came under threat of closure in the 1960s but was bought by the Liverpool Corporation, who wished to save it for the people of Liverpool. It underwent a £1m refurbishment in 2011 and renamed the Epstein Theatre after the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein.

Why is this theatre at risk?

The theatre was added to the Theatres at Risk Register in 2024

The entire building (now known as Hanover House) is owned by the council and leased to a commercial property landlord. The Epstein Theatre closed in June 2023, when the complex situation around the lease of the whole building and the management agreement between the council and the operator led to the theatre operating lease not being renewed.

The head lease of the building changed ownership in 2024, to property management company JSM Company Group Ltd, which announced its intention to convert the office space above the theatre into apartments.

Theatre potential

The Epstein had been in active operation until June 2023. It provided a theatre of a different scale to most of the other city centre venues and filled the demand for a programme of more popular community / amateur work supplemented by music / comedy.

The announcement of the theatre’s closure saw much community support for the venue. The theatre has now reopened with a programme of events scheduled until July 2027.

Current situation

Under the terms of the lease, it is required to formally seek consent for any change of use including the conversion of the premises into residential units.
In March 2025, it was announced that the theatre would be reopening, operated by Theatrical Times Ltd.

In the meantime, JSM submitted its application to convert the offices into serviced apartments. Theatres Trust objected to this application on the basis that there is a lack of information on acoustic impacts and potential for the theatre's emergency egress to become restricted. Read our response.

If approved, these plans could jeopardise the future operation of the theatre. We have requested to meet with JSM's design team to discuss the proposals. As of June 2026, this application remains undetermined and no further documents have been submitted by the applicant since a Fire Statement in May 2025.

Epstein Theatre reopened in September 2025 and is hosting an active programme including theatre, live music, comedy and a Christmas panto.

In recognition of the reopening of the Epstein Theatre, we have lowered its risk rating score. However, the Epstein Theatre will remain on the Theatres at Risk Register until we know the outcome of planning application for the apartments and the impact of that on the theatre. We continue to offer our support to JSM and the theatre operator to find a workable solution for all parties.

 Images credits: Ian Grundy