Derby Theatre sets out £10m revamp plan

The venue was previously known as the Derby Playhouse

Derby Theatre has set out how it plans to spend £10m of levelling up funding from the government.

The venue, based in the city's Derbion shopping centre, is to receive half of a £20m grant previously due to fund a new theatre on the site of the Assembly Rooms.

A new purpose-built studio theatre will instead be created at Derby Theatre along with a revamped "learning space".

Improvements to the "audience experience" are also being planned.

Derby City Council announced earlier this month its proposal to build a new theatre in place of the fire-damaged Assembly Rooms was no longer viable.

It said the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had agreed to a proposal to split the £20m awarded for the project equally between the Guildhall Theatre and Derby Theatre, which is owned by the University of Derby.

The venue's chief executive Sarah Brigham said: "Derby Theatre is approaching its 50th Birthday in 2025. This funding will allow us to secure the next 50 years of high quality theatre in our city."

A fundraising campaign aimed at bringing in additional cash for the redevelopment has also been launched by the theatre.

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