The Market Theatre was originally an old industrial unit, converted in 1996 into a small scale professional theatre.
Below is the artistic director, Kirk Foster’s vision of what The Market Theatre should be..
- The Market Theatre is a small scale professional theatre which, through the very nature of its size, is not subject to the crippling financial overheads of much larger provincial theatres.
- The theatre’s artistic policy works along the following lines: Heavy emphasis on new work by new writers. To provide a professional platform for the production of new plays by established and unknown writers.
- A Repertory Company with a mixture of relatively inexperienced yet fully trained professionals working alongside successful working actors.
- Performances every week running Thursday to Saturday.
- Performances lasting between 50 and 80 minutes. This will enable a commercial liaison between the theatre and the local bars, pubs and restaurants.
- Thursday will be “Cheap Night”. Concessionary priced tickets for students and senior citzens.
- Every weekend “Kids Theatre Club” and Christmas “Kids Theatre” shows with performances aimed specifically at 3-7 year olds.
- A mixed programme designed to respond to and stimulate the theatrical tastes of the community. Making “Live” theatre more accessible to all areas and ages of the community.
- 90% of productions will be produced by the Market Theatre Company, and 10% by visiting small-scale companies.
- The Cabaret Bar and theatre used to provide classes for the general public whenever possible. 50% of the theatre’s policy creating a new kind of venue for the profession and the other 50% providing a theatrical centre for the community.