Theatres Beyond the Stage: The Recovery of Regional Theatres as Placemakers in the East of England

Theatres Beyond the Stage: The Recovery of Regional Theatres as Placemakers in the East of England examines the relationship of regional theatre venues to audiences and local communities in the wake of Covid-19 closures. The research responds to the priorities of three theatres in summer 2022: the Mercury Theatre in Colchester; Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch; and the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, providing insight into the role of regional theatres as community hubs and social spaces. The findings presented in this report are grouped around three key themes: Placemaking and Community; Audiences; and The Digital. The report presents a profile of audience patterns and priorities, revealing the regularity of theatre attendance as impacted by the pandemic, audience attitudes on returning to theatregoing, take-up of digital theatre content, and the significance of regional theatres in community recovery from the pandemic.