Storyhouse

All images are credit The Storyhouse unless stated otherwise.

Walking into Storyhouse, you immediately feel the buzz of the creative community it houses.

To paraphrase the M&S advert, this is not just a theatre. It’s also a library, a cinema, a café, and a cultural hub that has breathed new life into this ancient city (almost 2,000 years old!).

Here you can thumb through a book in the morning, watch a film in the afternoon, and then spend your evening taking in a show.

Storyhouse began life as Chester’s Art Deco Odeon cinema, which opened in 1936 and entertained generations until, like many, it closed in 2007.

For nearly a decade after, the city had no major theatre or cinema of its own. But the passionate local community and the city council refused to let the old picture house fester. They launched an ambitious £37 million project to transform it into a modern multi-arts centre.

When the venue finally re-opened its doors in May 2017, it was the biggest cultural development in Chester in over 50 years. Fittingly, a year later Queen Elizabeth II visited Chester to officially open Storyhouse, marking a new chapter in the city’s cultural narrative.

The new design blends the old with the new, as the original 1930s cinema foyer and façade now lead into a bright contemporary extension that houses a state-of-the-art performance hall.

Uniquely, the main theatre can transform from an 800-seat traditional auditorium into a more intimate 500-seat thrust stage, allowing Storyhouse to host blockbuster touring musicals one month and local in-house productions the next. You can see this transformation on YouTube.

There is also a 150-seat studio theatre for fringe shows and community performances, and tucked away is a cosy boutique cinema showing films of all sizes and genres.

What really sets Storyhouse apart is how it opens its doors to the community all day long. The complex doubles as Chester’s main public library, with bookshelves winding through lounges and cafés instead of being confined to a quiet room.

The atmosphere is always welcoming and lively even when no stage show is on. A dedicated children’s library by the entrance often echoes with storytime sessions, and nearly 150 local groups use Storyhouse’s spaces for everything from drama clubs to support meetings.

True to its inclusive mission, Storyhouse goes the extra mile to make arts accessible. It hosts an annual Kaleidoscope Festival that celebrates neurodiversity and the talents of people with disabilities.

The venue also offers regular relaxed and autism-friendly film screenings, ensuring everyone feels welcome. From gender-neutral toilets to a busy volunteer programme, every aspect of Storyhouse is centred on community, and belonging.

Storyhouse has even become a launchpad for new productions, hosting the world premiere of the musical The Time Traveller’s Wife in 2022 and debuting the family musical The Parent Agency in early 2025 to great acclaim before a UK tour.

Storyhouse is everything we love about northern theatre. It is a beautiful venue rooted in local history yet proudly innovative and inclusive. Whether you are watching a play, grabbing a coffee among the bookshelves or joining a community workshop, you can feel the magic of this place touch your soul.