History of the Theatre

The Haymarket Theatre was a theatre in Leicester, England, based in the Haymarket Centre on Belgrave Gate in Leicester City Centre. The theatre closed at the end of 2006 to be replaced by the performing arts centre, scheduled for early 2008.

The venue has had a mixed history of successes and failures, suffering a brief closure from 2003 to 2004 due to financial problems. However, it is understood that the theatre drew a net profit in its final season two years later.


Leicester Theatre Trust (LTT) is the independent charitable body that will take over the operation of the new theatre on Rutland Street to which is to be named "Curve" at the end of Januery 2008. The Leicester Theatre Trust formed in 1973, it is a regularly funded client of Arts Council England (ACE) and receives annual revenue funding from Leicester City Council.

From 1973 to 2007 the organisation programmed and operated the Haymarket Theatre with a varied offer, aimed at attracting a broad and diverse audience, reflecting the unique nature of the city and its surrounds. In moving to the new facility, LTT aims to build on these successes and become an invaluable resource for the people of the city, the county and the region, as well as a nationally and internationally admired theatre provider.

Since closing the doors of the Haymarket Theatre at the end of January 2007, a decommissioning programme has begun to sort out years’ worth of accumulated ‘stuff’, much of which will be of value in the new building, the rest will be offered to local theatre companies or, where possible, recycled.

During the transitional year a programme of participatory learning activity will continue and artistic development and planning will lead to a launch programme for the new theatre. Shortly the LTT offices, currently based in the Haymarket, will move to Rutland Street, next to the new theatre.