Festival Theatre and Arts Cinema

This material is held atV&A Theatre and Performance Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 71 THM/258/4
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1926 - 2002
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 20 boxes

Scope and Content

Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust operated other sites in Cambridge from the late 1940s. The Festival Theatre on Newmarket Road was purchased shortly after the Second World War, and was a site famous for its unique Georgian interior and performance heritage, although the Trust principally used it as a rehearsal and storage space. The lease to the Arts Cinema site in Market Passage was secured in 1947 and the cinema opened in October that year. Both sites were included for redevelopment in the Trust's successful 1994 National Lottery bid but were subsequently sold in the late 1990s.

These records principally consist of correspondence and plans relating to the proposed redevelopment of each site, and their subsequent sales. Also to be found here are correspondence relating to the operation and management of each site, as well as documents concerning performances.

Access Information

Access to parts of this series is restricted.