About Us
Alnwick Playhouse is more than a place to see a show — it’s a place for our community to come together, connect and enjoy the arts.
From welcoming local audiences and supporting schools and young people, to providing opportunities for performers, artists and community groups, we’re proud to be part of the life of Alnwick and the wider community.
Our Story
Alnwick Playhouse has played a major role in the life of the town since 1925, and has been a vibrant arts centre since 1990. We welcome all ages, all audiences, professional and amateur performers and provide a home to our local community groups.
Every day we welcome hundreds of people through the doors. They might be attending a performance, buying tickets, singing in the choir, playing in the concert band, performing in the youth theatre, participating in a school visit, volunteering or simply meeting friends for lunch in the café.
The Playhouse was originally built in 1925 as a 700 seat cinema and occasional music hall, eventually closing in 1979 before being bought by NTC Touring Theatre Company who converted the ground floor. The upper floor was leased out to the Alnwick Playhouse District Trust who reopened the newly refurbished Alnwick Playhouse in December 1990.
Present Day
In 2018 the Playhouse closed once more for a major refurbishment, with ownership of the building transferring to Northumberland County Council. The ground floor was transformed to include the addition of the Library and Visitor Services to the building, improving the café and Studio facilities with the further addition of a new meeting room. Upstairs, the auditorium underwent significant refurbishment to replace and improve the seating and the bar was fully renovated.
The building reopened in January 2020 but was forced to close only 2 months later due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It finally reopened to the public once more in July 2021 with a scaled back programme until restrictions eased and productions returned to full strength in 2022.
