Little Theatre (Leicester)
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| Address | Leicester England, UK |
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| Coordinates | 52°37′54″N 1°07′45″W / 52.6318°N 1.1292°W |
| Owner | Leicester Drama Society |
| Type | Amateur Theatre |
| Capacity | 349 |
| Opened | 1932 |
| Website | |
| http://www.thelittletheatre.co.uk/ | |
The Little Theatre is a theatre venue based in Leicester, England which is operated by the Leicester Drama Society (LDS). The Theatre has a main auditorium which seats 349, along with an additional studio space. The theatre facilities include a bar, two rehearsal spaces, library and costume hire. The Little Theatre hosts around 200 productions a year, has an annual turnover of £580,000 and receives 50,000 visitors a year.[1] The theatre is equipped for audio description.
Productions at The Little Theatre are primarily plays from the resident amateur theatre company LDS and its members. LDS produce around 200 productions a year, with each season consisting of 12 plays and 1 pantomime. LDS productions usually consist of 6 evening performances and 1 matinee performance. LDS also hire the venue to professional acts, other community groups and events. Acts have included Prunella Scales, William Roache, Topping and Butch and Charles Dance. A youth theatre group also operates for ages 8–12, and 13–18.
Leicester born playwright Joe Orton and actor Richard Attenborough are both former alumni from the society.
History[edit]
Leicester Drama Society was formed in 1922 and occupied the upper floor of the old Rechabite Chapel on Dover Street, Leicester. The society purchased the building for £14,000 in 1932, renaming the building The Little Theatre.
In 1955 parts of the theatre had to be rebuilt due to a fire.[1]
In 2011 the theatre celebrated its 1,000th production with the Thornton Wilder play Our Town.[2]
In 2012 the theatre won Best Venue in Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards.[3]
In 2012 it was announced that The Little Theatre would be expanding. The expansion would result in 2 new rehearsal rooms, new studio, new workshop, new box office and foyer as well as providing better disabled access. The build requires the theatre to raise £2 million. The project was due to start in 2015, but suffered with funding issues. In 2018, Mayor Peter Soulsby offered the Little Theatre £280,000 if they could raise £3 million on their own.[4] The project is due for completion is 2022, in keeping with the Centenary of the theatre.
See also[edit]
- Leicester Comedy Festival
- Sue Townsend Theatre
- Curve (theatre)
- Haymarket Theatre (Leicester)
- De Montfort Hall
References[edit]
- ^ a b This is Leicestershire - 3 August 2009 - Little Theatre is a big attraction
- ^ This is Leicestershire - 24 May 2011 - Curtain rises for the Little Theatre's 1000th
- ^ This is Leicestershire - 13 March 2012 - Festival's favourite's honoured
- ^ "Theatre offered £280k site to expand - if it can raise £3m". 28 March 2018.
