The fabulous variety of Sheffield theatres makes this South Yorkshire city the ideal place to enjoy a memorable evening at a play, performance or show.
As England’s fourth largest city, Sheffield boasts many fantastic theatres, cinemas and live music venues. Whether you’re in the mood for a serious play, sing-a-long musical, string quartet or the latest blockbuster, you’ll find what you’re looking for during your city break in Sheffield. What’s more, in addition to all its much-loved permanent venues, Sheffield runs an exciting calendar of annual special events including outdoor cinema screenings from the Luna Cinema at the South Street Amphitheatre. Live music fans will also be thrilled to discover plenty of popular small music venues such as The Grapes, where Sheffield’s most famous musical exports, the Arctic Monkeys were first heard.
The Crucible Theatre
Best known as the venue for the World Snooker Championships each April, this 1971-built venue is also a major player in the Sheffield cultural calendar. The Crucible puts on a wide variety of productions, with recent examples including classic novel adaption Lady Chatterley’s Lover, and Annie Get Your Gun. It also takes its ties with the community seriously by providing plenty of coffee mornings, workshops and other events to tie in with its shows. Along with the Lyceum and the Crucible Studio, The Crucible is part of the three theatres in Sheffield that make up the Sheffield Theatres family.
The Crucible Studio Theatre
The Crucible Studio Theatre is a great favourite with classical music fans, thanks to the fact that it hosts many of the city’s Music in the Round series of concerts. As Music in the Round is a charity, great concessions are available for first-timers and under 35s. The venue is also home to an eclectic schedule of plays for adults and children alike. With a capacity of just 400 people, the Crucible Studio Theatre provides an intimate experience where theatregoers can feel immersed in the performance.
The Lyceum Theatre
The third of the three in the Sheffield Theatre group is the place to be if you’re looking for good old-fashioned entertainment. This Edwardian theatre’s grand facade and plush red velvet interior is reminiscent of many of the theatres in London’s West End, although with a capacity of just over 1000, it’s on the smaller side. As well as providing a varied programme of touring musicals, comedy, dance and plays, the Lyceum is the city’s favourite pantomime venue every festive season.
Sheffield City Hall
Sheffield City Hall is an imposing building which dominates Barker’s Pool, one of the city centre’s main squares. This Grade II listed building has a capacity of 2000 and plays host to many conferences and special events, as well as its much-loved productions. It’s the regular venue for Sheffield’s hugely popular Last Laugh Comedy Cabaret, which attracts the biggest names on the comedy circuit and even bigger crowds. City Hall is also a popular gigging venue for many live music acts and a meeting place for community ventures such as a lunchtime choir.
Sheffield Arena
If your favourite band is a stadium-filler, the chances are they will have played at Sheffield Arena. When it opened in 1991, Paul Simon was the first big name act to grace its stage. It’s a big favourite with comedy’s biggest stars too, with Peter Kay and John Bishop both performing sell out shows here. The venue is also home to the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team who provide an adrenalin-fuelled experience for sports fans keen for something new. It also sees thousands of families flocking for big budget shows such as Disney on Ice. As you’d expect from such a major entertainment venue, there is a great choice of familiar places to eat and drink nearby including Pizza Express, Starbucks and Nando’s.
