Multi-million-pound plans for Derby Guildhall Theatre to take big step forward

The project to restore Derby’s Guildhall Theatre is set to take a step forward later this month. Members of Derby City Council’s Cabinet will agree on terms for the use of the £20 million Government Levelling Up Funding allocated to Derby – which will be split evenly between the Guildhall Theatre and Derby Theatre.

The £10m allocated to the Guildhall Theatre will contribute to the restoration of the Grade II listed building to its former glory and once again welcome audiences. Plans for the theatre, which closed in January 2019, include a new front-of-house experience with an enhanced foyer as well as a new ground floor cafe and box office opening onto the Market Place.

The auditorium will also be remodelled to increase the seating capacity to around 280 – an increase from the current capacity of 244. Back-of-house facilities will also be renovated to make the venue more accessible, other improvements include refurbished dressing rooms and the installation of a new service lift.

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A new courtyard will also be included in the works, adjacent to Derby’s historic Market Hall, which is due to re-open in the spring of 2025 following major renovations. The Guildhall restoration works are currently planned to begin on-site in summer 2025 and be completed in late 2027.

The Guildhall already needed £10m of repairs to prevent the building from falling into disrepair. In total, the extensive restoration is expected to cost £24.55 million, which will be funded by a combination of the £10 million from the Levelling Up Funding and £14.55 million from the city council’s capital budget

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, deputy leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism, said: “By bringing the Guildhall Theatre back into use, we can not only restore one of our historic buildings but create more space for community-led arts groups to perform right in Derby’s cultural heart. We’re on a mission to put culture at the heart of our city, bringing pride to our high streets, and attracting further investment into the city. Change is coming and what is planned for Derby’s Market Place is truly exciting.”

Derby Theatre’s £10 million allocation will enable the theatre and the University of Derby to complete phase one of its New Horizons project, delivering a state-of-the-art new accessible studio theatre and learning and research hub.

The hub will allow the theatre and university to develop further the undergraduate and postgraduate offer onsite in a professional theatre continuing to make the most of and enhance the unique connection between students, professional artists, participants and audiences.

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