Derby Theatre relocation considered and city gets new performance venue

Plans to relocate Derby Theatre to a purpose-built facility on the site of the former Assembly Rooms are being considered by the local council.

Elsewhere in the city, planning permission has been granted for a 3,500-capacity performance venue.

Derby City Council and the University of Derby, which owns Derby Theatre, are currently looking at options to move the organisation, which artistic director Sarah Brigham says has "outgrown its current footprint".

The proposals compliment the council’s previously announced plans to remodel the Market Place area of Derby and create a "cultural heart" in the city.

Brigham, chief executive and artistic director of Derby Theatre, said: "We love our current home but pre-pandemic our audiences and community engagement were on a steep increase and so we are rapidly growing out of the current footprint.

"These initial talks to place us in the heart of the city opposite [cinema and gallery] Quad and a stones throw away from the Museum of Making and Deda means we will be creating a cultural quarter, which will we think will help the city to regenerate and make the Market Place a buzzing location once again for entertainment and leisure."

Deputy leader of Derby City Council, Matthew Holmes, said: "We are still at the exploratory stage of this potential project, but creating a new home for Derby Theatre in a purpose-built facility is a fantastic opportunity.

"It would have a truly transformational impact on Derby city centre and compliment the new entertainment and events arena being built at Becketwell."

He added: "However these are early stages and not everything is in our control, delivery of the scheme will be heavily dependent on securing external funding."

Derby Theatre is also looking at building on its existing artist development programmes, creating a research hub within the organisation and expanding its youth, community and outreach programmes.