Hire Rates
The Theatre Hire rate is applicable for all events held in the auditorium which are open to the public, for which an admission charge is made, and tickets are sold through our TicketSource facility.
(For private, non-show events, please see the Auditorium page)
Theatre hire includes the use of the following areas for a performance; Auditorium, Stage & Dressing Rooms, Gallery, Kitchen, Function Room & Bar on 1st Floor. Other Rooms by Arrangement.
Basic charge for a theatrical performance
Standard charge . . . £3.00 per seat sold
Minimum charge . . . £200
Maximum charge . . . £500
Plus Building Restoration Levy . . . £1 per seat sold
Rehearsals
£40 per Four hour session (All times must be agreed in advance)
Additional Facility Charges
Grand Piano hire – £50
Special Piano tuning – £35
Electric Piano – £20
Keyboard – £10
Theatre Sound and Lighting Facilities
Every performance – £35
Technician Support for Shows
Prior setting up to your own requirements by our Sound and Lighting Technicians, plus support for rehearsals and stage set-up, together with the performance are charged per hour & per technician:
Senior Technician £15 hour
Deputy Technician £12 hour
Junior Technician £10 hour
(Double cost after midnight)
Special Sound and Light Effects
Radio microphones, speciality lighting, star cloth, special effects machinery, external hire of special equipment, and Film Projection are all available upon request & must be agreed with our technical team.
To book The Theatre leave a message
Theatre Hire Basis
Theatre hiring charges are based upon individual performances, irrespective of day or time, and will include; a £50 refundable deposit which must be paid in advance for the hire of the Theatre.
Our Liability Insurance
All hirers must confirm their willingness to accept our insurer’s conditions. Please refer to all the pages of the ‘Hirers’ Public Liability Summary of Cover’ in our Insurance policy linked below.
Where the terms do not cover a hirer’s activity, then the hirer should have their own additional cover in place and forward copies to the Trust.
All theatre hirers are required to submit a technical form and a risk assessment form.
Hirers-Booking-Form
Special Theatre Hire Conditions
The Box Office and Front of House will be staffed by the Athenaeum Trust, and our volunteers will act as stewards.
The arrangements for your show, together with very clear indications of the required opening and closing times for your production, must be discussed with the Booking Secretary.
Centre Closure Dates
Please note that we do not take bookings for the following dates: 1st – 31st August inclusive, and Christmas Eve to the 1st January inclusive.
Information
- Ground floor Stalls seats – 145 (plus 2 wheelchair spaces – which access the auditorium via the front of the building wheelchair ramp & door)
- Balcony seats – 73 (there is no wheelchair access to the balcony and due to a low balcony handrail we request that people sitting in the balcony front Row (N) stand up to allow others safe access to their seat.
Advertising
It is the responsibility of the hirer to produce advertising literature and to promote their event accordingly. The Athenaeum only displays publicity material onsite and accepts no responsibility for the hirer’s lack of adequate and suitable advertising promotion.
Please note we do not have any on-site car parking facilities for guests or hirers. See details on public parking on our ‘About Us’ page.
