About Us

An intimate venue at the heart of Weston’s cultural life that is more than a theatre; offering a creative and inclusive programme.

Our mission is to be leading the way in this zeitgeist for Weston-super-Mare. We create Theatre for the whole community, bringing national popular shows and treading subject matters onto the stage. To promote a creative hub for artists and performers in the local area and a cultural home for fans of the arts.

The theatre’s uniquely diverse program of locally produced and touring work is curated especially for you. We are striving to create an inclusive creative community to make the most of a beautiful venue by using all of its spaces for artistic endorsers, and we are delighted you want to be a part of it.

We may be little, but we have big ideas!

The vision is to build a ‘big-city’ creative culture into the heart of the Victorian seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. We need continued public support to help sustain and grow this vision through ticket sales, personal donations, sponsorship and help spreading the word!

We are constantly working and adapting our programme each season to bring new and exclusive works to Weston-super-Mare, but we can’t do that without your support, so please spread the word and support our little theatre with big ideas!

5 Stars Small, intimate theatre. Friendly and excellent value for money. Loved it. Hewitt

5 Stars What a wonderful place to find…full of character & friendly staff. We’ll be looking for the next excuse to return. Slater

5 Stars Very Friendly and family orientated with a varied range of shows and films. Taylor

Proud to Support

Sunflower Support PostWe are delighted to support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme together with Weston-super-Mare Town Council, Weston Museum, Visitor Information Centre and North Somerset Council.

The Blakehay Theatre has adopted the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to help support and raise awareness of those living with a hidden disability. In addition to making the Sunflower lanyards available to patrons and colleagues with a hidden
disability, we’re training our staff to identify the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, gain a deeper understanding of hidden disabilities and learn how to approach and support customers with a hidden disability.

This means that those with a hidden disability can wear a Sunflower lanyard or wristband to make their disability visible to those around them while in our theatre. Staff will help you with any support or adjustments you may need.

We are proud to be supporting people with disabilities that may not be so obvious to the casual observer. Many people with a disability use or carry something – whether that’s a wheelchair, guide dog, hearing aid or white cane – that visibly indicates what the disability might be. But other disabilities, such as autism, dementia, mental health issues or learning difficulties, are not so obvious. Under the Hidden Disability Sunflower scheme, people with such disabilities can choose to wear a lanyard bearing a sunflower logo as a subtle way of letting others know that they may require additional support, assistance or a bit more time.

Find out more about the Sunflower at hiddendisabilitiesstore.com
#wearthesunflower #hiddendisabilities #inclusion #BeKind

Dementia Support SupportAlzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

Too many people affected by dementia feel that society fails to understand the condition they live with. Dementia Friends help by raising awareness and understanding, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want.

So our staff have signed up to be a Dementia Friend to make your time at the Blakehay Theatre a supportive and enjoyable one.

A Dementia Friend is somebody that learns about dementia so they can help their community. Dementia Friends help people living with dementia by taking actions – both big and small.

These actions don’t have to be time-consuming. From visiting someone you know with dementia to being more patient in a shop queue, every action counts! Dementia Friends can also get involved with things like volunteering, campaigning or wearing a badge to raise awareness. If you would like to learn more then please do visit Dementia Friends.

History of the Blakehay Theatre

Built in 1850, the building was Weston-super-Mare’s first Baptist church and first public building. In 1862 Hans Price, who became the town’s leading architect, was commissioned to adapt and enlarge the building. During the Second World War it was hit by incendiary bombs and only the outside walls of the church remained, after the war it was rebuilt inside the original Victorian shell. The building closed as a place of worship in 1985 and was saved from demolition and replacement with a block of flats in 1986 by the actions of Weston Civic Society.

The building was converted into a venue for amateur and professional events and public meetings and renamed ‘The Blakehay’. The name ‘Blakehay’ comes from “Black Hay”, a field that originally lay between the High Street and Wadham Street. The original 230 church seats were placed on a new raked platform and the old Baptistery turned into a stage. The old Sunday school rooms were converted into two studio space on the ground and first floors.

Weston-super-Mare Town Council then purchased the theatre in 2004. During the time that Weston-Super-Mare Town Council have owned and managed the theatre there has been extensive refurbishment with the Foyer, Toilets and Theatre Bar being refurbished in 2010. In 2017 the Town Council refurbished the old first floor Upper studio into a Studio Theatre that can also be used as two separate studio spaces and re-branded the theatre.

Hire Us

All of our spaces can be hired and used for a variety of events, performance, exhibitions, parties, meetings, conferences, classes, and so much more.

As well as the equipment and facilities available, we can also offer the services of skilled technicians to operate lighting and sound, plus a full staff including duty manager, Box Office, front of house and bar staff.

Please see the individual pages for more detailed information, or feel free to contact us to see how our fantastic facilities can meet your requirements.
Booking

The Blakehay Theatre has a busy artistic programme and can get booked up a long way in advance. We do recommend early booking to avoid disappointment.  We will always do our best to find a suitable date for you, so it is worth contacting us, even if it is short notice.

We are very happy to meet with you to discuss your event and show you around The Blakehay Theatre. It’s a beautiful space and we like to show it off! It also gives you the chance to check it’s the right space for you.

Contact Us

Blakehay Theatre
Wadham Street
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS23 1JZ

Blakehay Theatre 01934 645493 Online blakehaytheatre.co.uk
Email Enquiries blakehay@wsm-tc.gov.uk

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