Evenitto's guide · United Kingdom

Theatres in the UK

From the National Theatre and the West End to the Birmingham Hippodrome, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre and the Grand Opera House in Belfast: the houses that stage the shows we know of.

The big houses

National Theatre ↗

Plays & new work

The National Theatre is home to three theatres on the South Bank of the Thames in central London: the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Dorfman. It also has foyers and learning spaces.

London Palladium ↗

Pantomime & West End

The London Palladium stages Cinderella as its pantomime from 5 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, according to its pantomime site.

Royal Exchange Theatre ↗

Theatre in the round

The Royal Exchange Theatre on St Ann's Square is a theatre in the round: its page describes the 360-degree experience of its stage, in a seven-sided theatre where plays have been staged since 1976.

Birmingham Hippodrome ↗

Birmingham Royal Ballet & musicals

Birmingham Hippodrome describes itself as one of the UK's busiest arts venues, with a history of more than 125 years. Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of the companies it is home to, and it stages musicals, ballet and opera, drama and family shows, and a large pantomime.

Festival Theatre & King's Theatre ↗

Festival Theatre & King's

Capital Theatres runs the Festival Theatre on Nicolson Street and the King's Theatre on Leven Street in Edinburgh, and offers relaxed, audio-described, captioned and BSL-interpreted performances for most of its shows.

Citizens Theatre ↗

Plays & family shows

The Citizens Theatre is at 119 Gorbals Street in Glasgow, with a Main Theatre and a Studio Theatre, and has two new heritage spaces that present the theatre's past.

Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse ↗

Made in Liverpool

The Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse are run together as one charitable trust, the Everyman at 5–11 Hope Street and the Playhouse on Williamson Square. They describe their work as local stories with national impact, new talent and classics in new ways.

Leeds Playhouse ↗

New productions

Leeds Playhouse is at Playhouse Square on Quarry Hill and calls itself one of the UK's leading producing theatres for more than 50 years, at the heart of the city since 1970.

Bristol Hippodrome ↗

Touring musicals

The Bristol Hippodrome has a regular place on the touring circuit for major musical productions, and ATG's page calls it Bristol's West End Theatre. Its programme has musicals, plays, comedy, pantomime and family shows.

Sheffield Theatres ↗

Crucible, Lyceum & Playhouse

Sheffield Theatres, at 55 Norfolk Street, runs the Crucible, whose stage is surrounded by seats on three sides, the Lyceum, a proscenium arch theatre with over a hundred years of history, and the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, whose seating flexes from 100 to 400. The Montgomery, a children's and family arts centre, joined it in January 2025.

Nottingham Playhouse ↗

Producing theatre

Nottingham Playhouse on Wellington Circus was established in 1948 and produces classic plays, inventive family shows and new commissions through the year.

Wales Millennium Centre ↗

Musicals & Welsh National Opera

Wales Millennium Centre on Bute Place has seasons of musicals, cabaret, families and immersive experiences, and Welsh National Opera, and runs Platfform, a free youth programme for ages 11 to 25.

Lyric Theatre ↗

Producing theatre

The Lyric Theatre at 55 Ridgeway Street began in 1951 in the home of its founder, Mary O'Malley, has been in its present home since 1968 and calls itself Northern Ireland's only full-time producing theatre.

Grand Opera House ↗

Musicals & pantomime

The Grand Opera House at 2–4 Great Victoria Street was built in 1895 by the architect Frank Matcham. It calls itself Northern Ireland's home of live theatre, musicals and entertainment and brings West End shows to Belfast.

Brighton Dome ↗

Concert Hall, Corn Exchange & Studio

Brighton Dome has been at the heart of the city for over 200 years, with a Concert Hall, a Corn Exchange and a Studio Theatre under one roof, and part of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival.

Oxford Playhouse ↗

Drama & pantomime

Oxford Playhouse on Beaumont Street shows drama, dance, music and comedy and makes its own mid-scale and studio productions. It calls itself the only not-for-profit mid-scale venue in Oxfordshire, and says its pantomime draws over 40,000 people a year.

York Theatre Royal ↗

Producing theatre

York Theatre Royal at St Leonard's Place stages productions, comedy, music and festivals, runs a youth theatre for ages 5 to 19 and lists audio-described, BSL, captioned, dementia-friendly and relaxed performances.

Every stage

Every theatre and stage with shows in the next twelve months.