The People's Theatre
A long-established theatre in Heaton running a year-round programme of drama, comedy and classics plus a youth theatre, at its Stephenson Road home since 1962.
About The People's Theatre
The People's Theatre is one of the largest and oldest established amateur theatre companies in the country, founded in 1911 within the Newcastle branch of the British Socialist Party, whose first production, The Bishop's Candlesticks, was staged in July that year. After early homes in the city centre at Percy Street, the Royal Arcade and Rye Hill, the company bought the former Lyric Cinema on Stephenson Road in Heaton and opened its new arts centre there in September 1962 with Shaw's Man and Superman. It has remained at this site, close to the Coast Road, ever since.
The theatre stages a year-round programme of drama, comedy and classics across two spaces: a main auditorium and an 85-seat Studio Theatre, built at the back of the main house in 1981, supported by two rehearsal rooms. Alongside its main season it runs a Young People's Theatre, offers relaxed performances for accessibility and hires out its spaces for external events. As a membership-based company it draws on volunteers across performance and production, and has run community fundraising initiatives focused on building improvements and reducing its carbon footprint.
Featured in These Guides
Blog posts and guides that feature The People's Theatre.
Upcoming Events
Events that feature or are connected to The People's Theatre.
A View from the Bridge
7:30 PM · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF
Picnic at Hanging Rock, People's Theatre
7:30 PM · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF
2:22 A Ghost Story, People's Theatre
7:30 PM · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF
Noises Off at the People's Theatre
7:30 PM · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF
Panto: Beauty and the Beast, People's Theatre
19:00 · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle, NE6 5QF
Past Events
Recent events connected to The People's Theatre.
Katherine Brett Academy of Dance Summer Show, People's Theatre
23 July 2026 · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle, NE6 5QF
The Girl on the Train, People's Theatre
18 July 2026 · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle, NE6 5QF
The Girl on the Train, People's Theatre
14 July 2026 · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, NE6 5QF
Heaton Shakespeare Festival 2026
17 June 2026 · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, NE6 5QF
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What's On
Newcastle Allotment & Garden Festival
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM · Exhibition Park, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PZ
DJ-K: Live Percussion and Latino Grooves at The Cumberland Arms
2:00pm - 7:00pm · The Cumberland Arms, James Place Street, Ouseburn, NE6 1LD
The Wasp at the People's Theatre
7:30pm · People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Heaton, NE6 5QF