The Arts Theatre Cambridge is a 664-seat theatre on Peas Hill and St Edward's Passage in central Cambridge, England. The theatre presents a varied mix of drama, dance, opera and pantomime.
- Venue
- Cambridge Arts Theatre
- Address
- 6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3PJ, England
- Town
- Cambridge, GB
- Capacity
- 666
The Arts Theatre Cambridge is a 664-seat theatre on Peas Hill and St Edward's Passage in central Cambridge, England. The theatre presents a varied mix of drama, dance, opera and pantomime. It attracts touring productions, as well as many shows direct from, or prior to, seasons in the West End. Its annual Christmas pantomime is an established tradition in the city. From 1969 to 1985, the theatre was also home to the Cambridge Theatre Company, a national touring company. The Arts Theatre Cambridge was founded in 1936 by the Cambridge economist and statesman John Maynard Keynes. The Arts Theatre Cambridge has also been home to performances of Cambridge University's Marlowe Society, and it provides a venue for the university's triennial Cambridge Greek Play performed in Ancient Greek. In previous years it also housed performances by Footlights, the Cambridge University Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society. The Arts Theatre Cambridge opened on 3 February 1936 with a gala performance by the Vic-Wells Ballet, featuring among others Robert Helpmann, Margot Fonteyn and Frederick Ashton. ON Monday night, the Vic-Wells Ballet Company made a flying visit to appear at the opening performance of the new Cambridge Arts Theatre, which has been built to provide the town with plays, films, ballet, and music. The theatre has been completely equipped by the Strand Electric and Engineering Company. Any kind of stage play or revue can be presented. The whole of the apparatus is controlled by a modern stage lighting switchboard, unique in design. It is portable, and can be removed when the apron front stage used. The two battens are of magazine type, the first being divided into sections with Strand’s electric 1,000- watt spot lanterns fitted between the sections. The second is of similar design to throw light downwards, and has an angle dispersion of twenty-four degrees. A complete movable flat canvas cyclorama is being installed, and this is il