Cambridge Arts Theatre
The Arts Theatre Cambridge is a 664-seat venue in central Cambridge, England, at 6 St Edward's Passage near Peas Hill. It opened on 3 February 1936 with a gala by the Vic-Wells Ballet and was founded by the economist John Maynard Keynes, with his wife Lydia Lopokova playing a key role. Built to bring plays, ballet, film and music to the town, it was equipped with modern stage lighting and technology for its time.
Today the Arts Theatre Cambridge hosts drama, dance, opera and pantomime. It welcomes touring productions and many shows that come from, or later move to, the West End. The annual Christmas pantomime is a Cambridge tradition. The theatre has also been linked with Cambridge University groups, including the Marlowe Society and the Cambridge Greek Play; Footlights and other student companies have performed there in the past.
The theatre has staged important premieres, including Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party in 1958 and a 2008 stage adaptation of Girl with a Pearl Earring. The Cambridge Theatre Company was based here from 1969 to 1985, helping actors develop before many productions moved to London.
In 2013 the front-of-house and bar were redesigned and a new entrance added, with recognition for sustainability. The venue temporarily closed in 2025 for a refurbishment funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:06 (CET).