Old Laundry Theatre

The Old Laundry Theatre is a 270 seat theatre-in-the-round situated in Bowness-on-Windermere, and a thriving cultural hub for residents and visitors to the Lake District. Over the past two decades, the Old Laundry has welcomed a host of famous names from Alan Carr and Jenny Eclair to Victoria Wood and Sue Perkins. And along with an impressive star-studded list of trustees, husband and wife Roger Glossop and Charlotte Scott name one of the country’s most famous playwrights as the inspiration behind the theatre’s creation: “We wouldn’t be where we are now without Alan Ayckbourn’s support, he gave us the confidence to open the theatre and its success is down to him”.
The Trustees of the Theatre include household names Victoria Wood, Griff Rhys Jones, Alan Rickman and Alan Ayckbourn, all of whom have been instrumental in bringing the most prestigious theatre companies and artists to Cumbria to perform in the intimate venue. Every season, since the Theatre opened in 1992, the theatre has hosted Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s latest play on its world premier tour straight from Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre. The Theatre has also built an enduring relationship with The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) who bring their graduating student shows each year to the Lake District stage. Classical music, folk music, comedy, spoken word and an annual Cumbria Short Film Competition are also part of the annual programme of events creating a lively and professional season.