Heritage organisations

Theatres Trust

The Theatres Trust is The National Advisory Public Body for Theatres, and we work to safeguard theatre use, or the potential for such use and can help you establish the most viable and effective solution for your theatre building.

Established by The Theatres Trust Act 1976, we are a statutory consultee in the planning system in England, Scotland and Wales. We comment on theatre related planning and listed building applications and advise on planning policy to secure cultural policies that protect theatres.

The Trust delivers our statutory planning role in England through The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, which requires the Trust to be consulted on planning applications involving land on which there is a theatre or which will have an impact on theatre use.

This applies to all theatre buildings, old and new, including those currently in theatre use, those in other uses, and those that are disused. Ciné-variety theatres, circus buildings, arts centres and spaces that have been converted or adapted for theatre use, such as pub theatres, are all within our remit.

The Trust’s central London Resource Centre also provides access to a specialist theatre buildings Reference Library including books and architectural plans.

Areas of interest

Planning

• Pre-application consultation
• Planning and listed building applications
• Local and national planning policy
• Neighbourhood planning

Theatres at Risk

• Annual Theatre Buildings at Risk Register
• Casework

Advice

• Design and specialist conservation guidance
• Ceiling maintenance and guidance
• Advisory review
• Annual conference
• Workshops
• Assistance with: theatre ownership, capital development, asset maintenance and management, architecture, design, conservation, regeneration, place making, grant applications, and environmental sustainability
• Enquiry Service: Enquiry Service: Theatre Archive and Reference Library, online Theatres Database and Image Library, educational events and talkss

Grants

• Theatres Protection Fund Small Grants Scheme
• London Small Grants Scheme