We shine the spotlight on regional theatres across the UK and Ireland and showcase why they’re important to local communities and performers.
For many performers, a role in a smash-hit musical or a prestigious play in a West End theatre is the ultimate dream. It’s no secret that London is the heart of the theatre scene in the UK – attracting millions of people every year – and home to long-running shows such as The Mousetrap and Les Misérables.
London offers a wealth of opportunities to performers seeking roles on the stage, but outside of the capital is a thriving theatre industry across the UK and Ireland showcasing exciting and innovative productions, like Standing at the Sky’s Edge and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Here’s how regional theatres nurture and develop the careers of actors outside of London and the impact they have on local communities:
Performing at a Regional Theatre
Notable actors who got their big break from regional theatres include Vanessa Kirby, who made her professional stage debut as ‘Helena’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and Paul Mescal, whose first theatre role was in The Great Gatsby at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.
Historically, many regional theatres employed resident actors and formed a repertory company to perform a range of plays throughout the season. This was a fantastic way to gain experience and launched many young performers’ careers, including Spotlight members Patrick Stewart and Imelda Staunton.
This old-style system has since died out and instead, regional theatres put on shows for shorter runs and larger venues host touring productions. If doing a season in a rep company sounds right up your street, don’t worry – you haven’t missed your chance! There are still regional theatres that do it.
The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick puts on up to nine productions a year and uses a repertory company, and Creation Theatre in Oxford has a resident rep company employing some actors on full-time contracts. Creation Theatre’s rep company is unique in offering performers long-term financial stability: “We’re in the business of making high-quality shows and we believe that the current freelance system asks our actors to pay too high a price to make that happen.”
Why is Regional Theatre Important for the Future of the Industry?
There is a huge variety of shows in London, but for many people and families, a trip to the capital is not realistic. Having a theatre in close proximity is essential to giving people equal access to the arts and its facilities. Without a local venue to visit, young people won’t get the chance to see live theatre – which is often the inspiration for many to pursue a career in the industry.
Many touring theatre companies visit schools with their productions, but many regional theatres also welcome schools to their venues for workshops, tours, and work experience opportunities.
A great example is the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, which provides bespoke curriculum support, production support days for the school’s show assisted by professional actors, and after-school youth theatre hubs to develop theatre and social skills. Also, the Lyric Theatre in Belfast offers drama workshops to young actors and many workshops at The Chapter Arts Theatre for young people and families are free.
In recent years, regional theatres have seen school visits decrease and the feedback specifies travel costs, student behaviour concerns, and a diminished interest in the arts.
Hull Truck Theatre, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Derby Theatre have formed a three-year partnership to re-engage children and young people and Roddy Gauld, Chief Executive of the Octagon Theatre, said, “For many people, their first trip to the theatre is with school, so it’s essential that we engage schools as part of our long-term audience development.”
To promote access and inclusivity, many regional theatres, such as the Bristol Old Vic and Hope Mill Theatre, provide free after-school workshops and sessions. Regional venues also offer free rehearsal space to the local community, including Leeds Playhouse and Middle Child in Hull. Venues such as the Nottingham Playhouse and the Shakespeare North Playhouse offer a pay-what-you-can system, so nobody misses out on theatre due to distance or cost.
How Regional Theatre Helps Actors
A perk of having a role in a regional production is the chance to perform in less traditional venues such as The Minack Theatre in Cornwall – a beautiful open-air theatre perched on the Cornish cliffs – or the historic Theatre Royal in Newcastle, one of the few Grade I-listed theatres left in England.
Aside from showcasing traditional productions such as Shakespeare and Ibsen, many regional theatres self-produce original work, allowing actors to debut exciting new roles for the first time. A part in a regional production also provides networking opportunities for actors with local industry professionals such as directors, casting directors and playwrights. For actors who want to focus on theatre work in their region, creating relationships could help lead to further opportunities in the future.
More often than not, those casting for regional productions will want to work with actors based in the area. John Godber – who was Hull Truck’s artistic director for 25 years and the UK’s most-performed playwright – founded his company in 2011 and is always looking for new talent, especially actors from the North of England. So keep an eye out on your local theatre’s website and social media, or pop in and ask about their casting process.
Regional productions often transfer to a London stage if they gain critical acclaim or win an award, and they could take you with them. Chichester Festival Theatre, for example, has had various productions move to a London stage, including Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Private Lives and Sweeney Todd.
This can also happen to shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – the most famous regional platform – that performers and theatre lovers flock to every year. Notable examples include Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag, Six: The Musical and Rob Madge’s My Son’s a Queer.
The Challenges that Local Theatres Face
The majority of regional theatres rely heavily on public funding, and many have had a tough time over the years due to cuts. In 2023, the Oldham Coliseum Theatre became a casualty and closed to the dismay of the local community due to funding issues. The venue had nurtured many actors at its Oldham Theatre Workshop, including House of the Dragon’s Olivia Cooke, who began taking classes there at the age of eight.
Thankfully, this story has a happy ending: The theatre is set to reopen after a campaign spearheaded by performer Julie Hesmondhalgh, “It’s been a battle, but it’s been a battle of hearts and minds because Oldham people love this place.”
Lack of funding also affects a theatre’s mentorship and training opportunities for aspiring playwrights, directors and technicians. Without skills taught by experienced professionals, a generation of talent is excluded and blocked from succeeding. Lack of investment means new playwrights won’t have a platform to showcase their work, which has a knock-on effect in providing opportunities for others in the industry.
There are some fantastic productions across the UK and Ireland, keeping theatre accessible for everyone while championing new voices and talent. Regional theatre offers a lifeline to emerging actors and local communities who want to see high-quality productions and that’s why it’s vital to support them.
If you’re unable to visit your local theatre, you can also show your support by donating through the Theatres Trust who aims to keep theatres open for generations to come.
Whether you’re a frequent visitor or enjoy shows more sparingly, let’s keep the curtains up and the applause roaring for all our regional theatres across the UK and Ireland!
Take a look at our website for more industry news and theatre acting advice for performers.
Sarah Ridgway trained as an actor and has dabbled in stand-up comedy. Sarah is now a freelance writer, and her credits include Backstage and Actors Pro Expo; she is also passionate about empowering solo female travel.
Headshot credit: Sarah Ridgway
