Tyne Theatre & Opera House is a Grade I listed theatre, built in 1867 by industrialist and politician Joseph Cowen who envisioned ‘a Theatre for the People’ in the West End of Newcastle. Over 150 years later, this remains at the heart of our ethos. We’re proud to be a warm and welcoming venue, with a varied programme of events offering something for everyone.
The building is owned and preserved by the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust and run by the Trust’s subsidiary company, Tyne Theatre and Opera House Ltd. We are an independent not-for-profit venue and a registered charity, with all profits going back into the maintenance and preservation of the building for the benefit of future generations.
In January 2015 the Theatre was given a new lease of life when a subsidiary of the Trust, Tyne Theatre & Opera House Ltd. was set up to operate and manage the business. Together with the Preservation Trust, we are committed to restoring the Theatre to its former glory and raising the necessary funds to ensure its heritage is sustained for future generations.
The Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust became the freehold owner of the building in 2008. The first building protection group was started in the 1970’s when the building closed as the Stoll Picture Theatre, and agreed to lease the theatre to the Tyne Theatre Trust. All our Trustees are volunteers.
As a non-profit organisation, we could not do this without your help, and just by visiting the theatre you are helping to keep its wonderful heritage alive. There is still much to be done, and this would not be possible without the hard work of our volunteers and generosity of the public.
Staff
Chief Executive Officer: Jonathan Higgins
Finance Director: David Weakley
General Manager: Lewis Jobson
Executive Support Officer: Riikka Heiskanen
Head of Marketing and Communications: Lena Moss
Head of Ticketing: Gemma Bateman
Front of House Manager: Jenifer Miller
Chief Technician: Daniel Hurd
Assistant Bar Manager: Louise Robinson
Assistant Box Office Manager: Kirsty Smith
Events Co-ordinator: Nic Mecrow
Events and Programming Assistant: Hannah Moore
HR and Payroll Administrator: Laura Organ
Marketing Assistant: Sophie Hicks
Stage Technician: Leila Sked
Restoration and Development Project Team:
Project Director: Dr. David Wilmore
Heritage & Development Project Manager: Rachel Snape
Project Site Manager and Master Carpenter: Colin Hopkins
With many casual staff members and volunteers.
To contact a particular member of staff, please email [email protected] with a ‘FAO [Staff Name]’ in the subject line.
Michael Wilmot – Chair
James Lloyd – Vice Chair
Alan Butland – Secretary
Richard Harris
Barry Speker OBE DL
John Richardson
Ros Dougal
Sonia Hernandez
Dr. Kathleen Fadden
Rebecca Graham
Rajinder Singh
Chloe Squires
Ian Kelsall
Cllr. Abdul Samad
Cllr. Linda Wright
If you have any enquiries or would like to know more about the Trust, please contact: [email protected] or call +44 (0)191 243 1171
The objectives for which the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust (Charity Number 1120746) is established are;
(a) To acquire, restore and preserve for the benefit of the public at large the Grade I listed Building known as The Tyne Theatre and Opera House;
(b) The advancement of public education in all aspects of the dramatic arts by the presentation and production of plays and other expressions of drama including the commissioning of new works and the mounting of public performances and the mounting of classes, exhibitions and demonstrations of dramatic arts and theatre technology;
(c) The advancement of public education in theatre technology by the preservation, conservation and exhibition of machinery and technology of the performing arts and the interpretation of such artefacts and their historical context;
(d) The advancement of public education in all aspects of the arts including music and music theatre, drama, decorative and visual arts, dance, ballet, circus, music hall and comedy and variety performance.
The Tyne Theatre & Opera House recognises that:
Safeguarding children and young people
Learn more about upcoming shows and events at Tyne Theatre & Opera House stage.
Find out more about Tyne Theatre & Opera House’s rich history spanning over 150 years.
View a selection of images of Tyne Theatre & Opera House.
