The Century Theatre

What The Century Theatre does

The Century Theatre is a multi-purpose live entertainment venue located within Snibston Colliery Park in Coalville, Leicestershire, owned and operated by Leicestershire County Council. Originally designed and built between 1948 and 1952 as Britain's oldest surviving travelling theatre, the venue was permanently relocated to Coalville in 1997 following a renovation and reassembly on a purpose-built site adjacent to the historic mine buildings of the former Snibston Colliery. The facility comprises three operational spaces: a main auditorium with capacity for up to 206 people, a separate Studio space accommodating up to 90 people for workshops and community use, and a foyer and bar area serving up to 115 people.

The theatre's programming spans a diverse range of live entertainment including professional and amateur theatrical productions, live music concerts, comedy shows, dance performances, films, and seasonal pantomimes. It generates revenue through four primary streams: ticket sales via box office (telephone, online, in-person) and the TicketSource platform; venue hire for conferences, award ceremonies, book launches, school events, and private parties; bar services during events and performances; and Studio space rental for community groups and creative workshops. Ticket pricing varies by production, typically ranging from £14 to £80 depending on event type and seat category. The venue also offers a volunteer programme covering front-of-house, technical, and administrative roles, and previously operated an Academy for arts education (currently paused).

The theatre serves four primary customer segments: general public and families in Coalville and surrounding Leicestershire seeking local entertainment; event organizers hiring the venue space; schools and educational groups booking school performances; and professional performers and production companies seeking a regional East Midlands venue. Strategic partnerships with touring production companies (Lyngo Theatre, Hambledon Productions, Vocal Zone Voice Studio, Short Circuit Comedy, Megan Lewis School of Dance) anchor a recurring programming pipeline. The venue was added to the Theatres Trust 'Theatres at Risk' list in 2014 following the closure of Snibston Discovery Park, but was removed in 2020 following a £3m regeneration investment that transformed the area into Snibston Colliery Park, a family destination combining heritage trails, play area, café, and theatre.

Name

The Century Theatre

Legal name

Leicestershire County Council

Website

https://centurytheatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Century Theatre is a council-run multi-purpose live entertainment venue in Coalville, Leicestershire, hosting theatrical, musical, comedy, and dance productions alongside venue hire for events, serving the East Midlands community since 1997.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Live theatre performances
• Venue hire services
• Performing arts venue
• Community arts programming
• Ticketed entertainment events

Headquarters

HQ city

Coalville

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to performances and events. Tickets are sold through online booking, telephone box office, and in-person sales. Administrative fee of £5 for ticket transfers.
2. Venue Hire: The theatre and studio space can be hired for events including conferences, award ceremonies, book launches, school and community events, and private parties. The venue holds up to 206 people in the auditorium and up to 115 in the foyer and bar.
3. Bar Services: Full bar service available during events and performances. Venue provides catering and refreshments for hire events.
4. Studio Hire: The Studio space next to the theatre, with capacity for up to 90 people, available for hire for community groups and creative workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Century Theatre operates a multi-purpose performing arts venue consisting of a 206-seat main auditorium and a 90-capacity Studio space, hosting professional and amateur theatrical productions, live music, comedy, dance, pantomimes, films, and community events. In addition to ticketed performances, the theatre offers venue hire for conferences, ceremonies, and private events, supported by a box office (telephone, online, and in-person) and bar/catering services.

Product overview

The Century Theatre is Britain's oldest surviving travelling theatre (built 1948-1952), now permanently housed in Coalville, Leicestershire since 1997. The venue operates as a multi-purpose entertainment facility consisting of the Main Theatre (206 capacity), The Studio (90 capacity), and a foyer/bar area (115 capacity). Services include venue hire for various events, a Box Office ticketing system, arts education through the Academy (currently paused), and a volunteer programme. The theatre hosts classic drama, live music, comedy, dance, films, and community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Theatre Auditorium 206-seat main auditorium hosting professional and amateur theatrical productions, live music, comedy, dance, pantomimes, and films for general public audiences.
• The Studio Light-filled space adjacent to the main theatre with capacity for up to 90 people, suitable for community groups, creative workshops, and flexible event options.
• Venue Hire

Quantifiable outcome

• Removed from Theatres Trust 'Theatres at Risk' list following £3m investment in regeneration
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coalville Business GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTheatre and Snibston Colliery Park partner with Coalville Business Group for the Annual Autumn Fayre. The event brings together multiple Coalville venues including The Emporium, Marlborough Square, Snibston Colliery Park and Century Theatre for live music, entertainment, arts and crafts, and seasonal food and drinks.
• Lyngo TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyngo Theatre is a UK-based children's theatre company with strong Italian connections. They perform family shows at Century Theatre, including Jack and the Beanstalk (winner of Best Show at International Youth Arts Festival) and Alice in Wonderland. Their shows use a unique mix of images and theatre performance.
• Hambledon Productions / John HewercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHambledon Productions, led by John Hewer, produces tribute shows at Century Theatre including 'Just Like That! The Tommy Cooper Show' and 'The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town'. John Hewer adapts scripts and performs as Tommy Cooper.
• Short Circuit ComedycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShort Circuit Comedy produces and curates the Coalville Comedy Club at Century Theatre, featuring professional comedians from the UK circuit including The Noise Next Door, Rod Woodward, and Ingrid Dhale.
• Vocal Zone Voice Studio / Adam HepkincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocal Zone Voice Studio, led by Adam Hepkin (International Award Winner), produces major musical productions at Century Theatre including RENT, Six: Teen Edition, Jesus Christ Superstar, and upcoming Hadestown. Productions feature choreography by Stephanie Hepkin (Grease UK Tour, Joseph UK Tour).
• Megan Lewis School of DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMegan Lewis School of Dance hosts workshops and camps at Century Theatre including K-Pop Dance Workshop, Swifties (Taylor Swift) Dance & Craft Workshop, and Acro Camp for children aged 5-10.
• Leicestershire County CouncilcoreOthersThe theatre is run and operated by Leicestershire County Council. The council invested £3m to regenerate Snibston Colliery Park and committed to ensuring Century Theatre became an important part of the local community.
• Theatres TrustminorOthersThe Theatres Trust campaigns to protect UK theatres and publishes annual 'Theatres at Risk' register. Century Theatre was removed from this list after demonstrating stability. Gary Kemp is a board member of the Theatres Trust.
• Royal British Legion and Coalville and District Veterans AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival of Remembrance at Century Theatre donates all profits to Royal British Legion and Coalville and District Veterans Association.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Albany Theatre: Coventry-based community theatre hosting touring drama, music, comedy, and pantomime programming of similar scale and community focus. Comparable mid-tier venue competing for the same East Midlands touring circuits.
• Loughborough Town Hall: Charnwood Borough Council-operated venue in Loughborough, Leicestershire, featuring a main theatre plus function rooms. Directly competes for the same Leicestershire audience and touring productions.
• Pomegranate Theatre: Mid-sized receiving theatre in Chesterfield operated by Chesterfield Borough Council, hosting a comparable mix of touring drama, music, comedy, and community productions. Direct analogue in venue size, council ownership model, and East Midlands-adjacent regional positioning.
• Key Theatre Peterborough: Regional receiving theatre in Peterborough hosting touring drama, music, comedy, and pantomime. Comparable size, programming mix, and reliance on visiting producers as Century Theatre.
• The Y Theatre: Leicester-based community theatre offering live music, comedy, and drama programming with similar capacity. Closest geographic competitor and most direct alternative for East Midlands audiences.
• The Core at Corby Cube: Multi-purpose arts venue in Corby, Northamptonshire, operated by a charitable trust with council backing. Comparable mid-capacity performing arts, cinema, and community event mix in a similar town-scale market.

Broad incumbents

• Nottingham Playhouse: Larger Nottingham-based producing theatre with broader programming and a stronger brand. Represents a larger regional competitor in the East Midlands theatre landscape.
• Curve Theatre Leicester: Major Leicester-based producing theatre with significantly larger capacity (curved main house ~900 seats) and a far broader programming slate. Defines the upper bound of the East Midlands theatre market Century Theatre operates beneath.
• Derby Theatre: Larger Derby-based producing and receiving theatre with bigger capacity and a more established in-house production programme. Represents an aspirational peer and a competitor for higher-tier touring productions in the East Midlands.
• Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham: Major Nottingham venue complex with 2,500+ capacity hosting large-scale touring musicals and concerts. Represents the highest-tier regional competitor drawing audiences from the same East Midlands catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/century_theatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCenturyTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/century_theatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/century-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Century Theatre