Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre

Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre is a theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It opened in 1997. The Stoke Repertory Theatre Players present a season of plays each year. The theatre is also a venue for local dance, drama and musical theatre companies.

1. History


1. = Stoke Repertory Players =

A group of amateur actors and actresses in Stoke-on-Trent met in 1920 to stage the play Caste by T. W. Robertson, which they performed in February 1921 at the Empire Theatre, Longton. They later created a theatre, converted from a mission church in Beresford Street in Shelton; it opened in March 1933 with the play Lean Harvest by Ronald Jeans. They subsequently presented a season of varied plays each year. The theatre in Beresford Street closed in May 1997.

1. = New theatre =

In 1992 the Stoke Repertory Players were on the verge of purchasing the former Empire Theatre in Longton where the group had performed some years prior, more recently converted into a bingo hall. There were plans to renovate the building back to its original state as a theatre. On New Year's Eve 1992, days before the purchase was due to be completed, the building was destroyed by fire. The building of the new theatre was subsequently proposed to replace the deteriorating theatre in Shelton. Funds received for the project included donations from local businesses, and a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. The theatre was designed by Hulme Upright and Partners. It opened in November 1997, with a production of Noises Off by Michael Frayn.

1. = The theatre today =

The theatre seats 235. The Rep is a limited company with charitable status, and is staffed by volunteers. The theatre presents five plays per year produced by the in-house Stoke Rep Players but it is also hired by local dance, drama, musicians and musical theatre companies and is busy throughout the year.

1. References

Nearby Places View Menu

280 m

Shelton, Staffordshire

Shelton is an area of the city of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England, between Hanley and Stoke-upon-Trent.

Landmark Neighbourhood

Hanley Park

Hanley Park is an urban park in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Officially opened on 20 June 1897, it occupies about 63 acres (25 ha) of land. The park was developed by the town of Hanley over a period of five years and cost approximately £70,000. It has been described as a good example of a late Victorian municipal park, and is listed Grade II* in Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens. The park received a Green Flag Award in July 2023.

Landmark Park

494 m

Stoke-on-Trent power station

Central Power House (Hanley) supplied electricity to the county borough and later city of Stoke-on-Trent, England and the surrounding area from the 10th April 1913 to the 1960s. The power station was initially owned and operated by Stoke-on-Trent Corporation, then by the North West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station operated in conjunction with power stations at Burslem, Hanley (original smaller power station on the same site as the Central Power House), Stoke-upon-Trent and Longton.

Industrial Landmark

621 m

City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College

The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College is a mixed sixth form college on Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent. It opened its new building on Leek Road in September 2010 having previously been located on Victoria Road, Fenton. The college is also known as Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, and – prior to its relocation – Fenton Sixth Form College.

School