Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Celebrates Busiest Year On Record

Stafford’s Gatehouse Theatre is celebrating its busiest year on record, with more than 180,000 people visiting in 12 months.

The Eastgate Street theatre, which also acts as Stafford’s Tourist Information Centre, saw visitor numbers rise by around 10,000 compared with the previous year.

That means attendances were up by about six per cent in the year ending 31 March. The venue also recorded its highest income since opening in 1982.

Big shows and a record panto

One of the biggest highlights was the Christmas pantomime Sleeping Beauty, which brought in just under 19,500 people over the festive period.

Ticket sales for this year’s panto, Aladdin, are already ahead of previous sales patterns, with the theatre hoping for another strong Christmas season.

Other popular names at the venue included:

• Jason Manford

• Milton Jones

• Bobby Davro

• Chris McCausland

• Scott Bennett

• Lee Mead

• Showaddywaddy

• Gareth Gates

• Nik Kershaw

The theatre has also worked with Channel 4 on a major production and hosted a Channel 5 TV series premiere.

Youth theatre, Shakespeare and a new town centre venue

The Gatehouse says its wider programme has also helped bring more people in.

This includes the Gatehouse Youth Theatre, which regularly performs in The MET studio, and the annual Gatehouse Summer School. This year, a Technical Stage School is also being added for the first time.

The theatre also launched a new satellite venue in 2025. The HEART project, short for Hub of Entertainment Arts Recreation and Theatre, has brought new life to a former TK Maxx store in Stafford town centre.

Last year’s Stafford Shakespeare production of Hamlet had its busiest audiences since the event moved from Stafford Castle in 2023. Sales for this year’s Richard III, running from 23 June to 4 July, are already ahead of those figures.

“The busiest year in Gatehouse history”

Gatehouse Marketing Manager Keith Harrison said it had been the busiest year in the theatre’s history, with more visitors, more revenue and more shows than ever before.

He said audiences were enjoying a big night out at the theatre, while performers were also keen to come to Stafford.

He added that the theatre’s growing social media following and mailing list, now reaching around 150,000 people, had also helped drive interest.

A boost for Stafford

General Manager Gary Stevens said the year would not have been possible without the support of audiences, volunteers and local partners.

He said the theatre’s success shows the important role it plays at the heart of Stafford, from major touring acts to community productions.

Stafford MP Leigh Ingham has also praised the theatre in the House of Commons, saying arts and culture is “alive and well in Stafford”.

Councillor Gillian Pardesi, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Stafford Borough Council, said the Gatehouse continues to bring top quality entertainment to Stafford and helps support the local economy, especially in the evenings.

What else happens at the Gatehouse?

Alongside live shows, the Gatehouse is home to several local groups and events, including:

• Stafford Film Theatre

• Stafford Players

• Stafford History Day

• Stafford and District Arts Society

• Musical Youth Theatre Stafford

• Musical Theatre Stafford

The theatre also has a café open Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is operated by Freedom Leisure in partnership with Stafford Borough Council.