Leicester Haymarket Theatre

Leicester Haymarket Theatre
Entrance to the Leicester Haymarket Theatre following refurbishment in 2018
Interactive map of Leicester Haymarket Theatre
Address1 Garrick Walk, Haymarket,
Leicester
England
OwnerING Real Estate Management
Capacity901 (main theatre) 120 (studio theatre)
Current usePerforming arts centre
Construction
Opened1973 (1973)
Years active1973–2007, 2018–2020
ArchitectBuilding Design Partnership

The Leicester Haymarket Theatre is a theatre in Leicester, England, next to the Haymarket Shopping Centre on Belgrave Gate in Leicester City centre. It operated as a theatre (with two stages) from 1973 to 2007, and again briefly between 2017 and 2020. Since 2023 it has been a teaching and performing base for a dance school.

History

The Haymarket Theatre was designed by Building Design Partnership, to supersede the small Phoenix Theatre. When first built, the auditorium sat 750 people, "built with a large London dimensioned stage, capable of staging grand Opera, or Ballet, but having too small a seating capacity to make it viable for such shows".[1] Later a rehearsal area in the building was converted into a smaller, more intimate stage, the Studio Theatre, which sat 120 people.[1]

The Haymarket Theatre was opened by Sir Ralph Richardson on 30 November 1973. The opening season started ahead of the official opening with The Recruiting Officer on 17 October 1973, Economic Necessity on 24 October and Cabaret on 21 November. Leicester City Council purchased a 99-year lease of the theatre in 1974.

The Haymarket's early production directors were Robin Midgley and Michael Bogdanov.[2][3] The musical director was American Robert Mandell, and the Haymarket soon gained a reputation for developing and producing stage musicals, many of which transferred to the West End in London and Broadway in New York. The Haymarket mounted several musicals in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh.[1]

Between 1973 and 2007 the theatre was operated by The Leicester Theatre Trust. The Trust vacated the theatre in 2007 when it moved to the newly built Curve Theatre, Leicester in Leicester's Cultural Quarter. The last show held at the Haymarket by the Leicester Theatre Trust was Wizard of Oz starring Helena Blackman in 2006. The theatre was closed in 2007 and remained so for the next 10 years.

In June 2016 the management of the theatre was taken over by an organisation known as the Haymarket Consortium who undertook that it would be re-opened as a performance, training and e-sports venue.[4][5] The theatre was re-opened for performances on 2 March 2017 and a formal opening ceremony took place later that year.[6] The theatre closed again in March 2020, during the Coronavirus pandemic and entered liquidation on 22 May 2020.[7]

In 2023 it reopened as a teaching and performing base for a dance school.[8][9]

Metal Tree sculpture

The Metal Tree sculpture by Hubert Dalwood, at the front of the entrance to the Haymarket Theatre, was the only major piece of abstract sculpture in the city centre for many years. It was unveiled in 1974.[10]

Selected productions

The theatre was noted for its production of musicals, some in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh. The following are some of the productions held at the theatre. All are in the main theatre, unless noted (Studio Theatre productions).[1]

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

  • 2002. On Your Toes, directed by Paul Kerryson, starring Adam Cooper, Linzi Hateley. Kathryn Evans, Marguerite Porter and Irek Mukhamedov.
  • Red-brick exterior to the theatre
  • Foyer area demonstrating Brutailst architecture
  • The main auditorium has 901 seats
  • The main stage is the largest in England
  • Metal Tree sculpture

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Garratt, David. "The Haymarket Theatre, Leicester", ArthurLloyd.co.uk, accessed 26 February 2026
  2. ^ a b c Sheppard, Emma (January 2024). Outspoken Shakespeare: Michael Bogdanov the Opportunist Director (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Warwick, Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  3. ^ Coveney, Michael (18 April 2017). "Michael Bogdanov obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  4. ^ "UK Theatre & Performing Arts News – West End to Regional". thestage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Disused Haymarket theatre 'could reopen'". BBC News. 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Latest updates: East Midlands Live". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus forces Leicester's Haymarket Theatre out of business". 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020 – via leicestermercury.co.uk.
  8. ^ "The Haymarket Theatre". Story of Leicester. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  9. ^ Kataria, Sonia; Jefford, Will (19 October 2023). "Haymarket Theatre called 'special place' on 50th anniversary". BBC. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Hubert Dalwood Sculpture - Haymarket Shopping Centre, Leicester". Archived from the original on 27 November 2016.
  11. ^ "The Haymarket Theatre, Leicester". Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. ^ Bogdanov, Michael (22 November 2003). "Plays for today". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Two Into One". Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  14. ^ "The Composer Plays". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  15. ^ a b Baker, Andy (28 November 2020). "Stars at Leicester's Haymarket Theatre: fabulous pictures from our archive". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  16. ^ "A Midsummer Night's Dream (1984)". BBAShakespeare. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  17. ^ "High Society". Theatricalia. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  18. ^ "Timon of Athens (1988 to 1988)". BBAShakespeare. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Poster". Victoria & Albert Museum. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  20. ^ "Julius Caesar (1988)". BBAShakespeare. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  21. ^ Smith, Peter J. (2026). "Chapter VII. Shakespeare: 7. Shakespeare in the Theatre". The Year's Work in English Studies. doi:10.1093/ywes/maaf090. Retrieved 8 March 2026.

52°38′15″N 1°07′55″W / 52.6375°N 1.1320°W / 52.6375; -1.1320

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