Nottingham Playhouse announces the opening of its brand-new Workshops and Storage facility, created to support Sustainability, and offering state of the art facilities and skilled craftspeople for hire to the wider theatre industry.

The new 31,140 ft square Workshops provide additional space for building and painting scenery, more storage space for sets, costumes and props, and has had the latest woodworking technology installed. The aim in setting up the Workshops has been to make a step gain in Sustainability, as more materials can be stored, recycled and re-used.

The Workshops were officially opened on Friday 16 January when John Elkington, legendary Nottingham Playhouse panto Dame, cut the ribbon to celebrate their opening.

The Nottingham Playhouse Workshops are also open as a commercial facility to the wider industry, scenery storage is available immediately and later this year the Workshops will be fully operational to commission set builds. The Workshops provide the opportunity to continue training up skilled craftspeople, including production carpenters and metal workers, that are a core part of Nottingham Playhouse’s creative output.

Andrew Quick, Head of Production, said:

“Our brand-new Workshops will help future-proof Nottingham Playhouse in terms of Sustainability across our own productions, but we can also support theatres across the industry who aren’t able to run their own facilities. We have continued to invest in training and upskilling our craftspeople over the years, we have recruited a new team to run the Scenic Workshop and are now able to share those skills more widely. The Nottingham Playhouse Workshops also mean we can further expand our skills training.”

“The Workshops offer a conveniently central location, with close access to the M1; secure storage facilities for the short or long-term; expert handling and inventory control; repairs and refurbishment, and flexible options for all sizes of organisation. It’s very exciting to finally get it up and running.”

Stephanie Sirr MBE, Chief Executive of Nottingham Playhouse, said:

“This new facility is us putting our money where our mouth is – investing in a Sustainable future and leading by example in the industry. We are proud to remain one of too few full producing houses in the UK making our own shows. As budgets are squeezed ever tighter, we hope that sharing our skills and facilities will provide an invaluable service across the industry, whilst enabling us to continue improving Sustainability across our productions.”

Full details of the available facilities are on the Nottingham Playhouse webpage, along with an enquiry form for interested parties. On offer are:

  • Ample Capacity: With over 30 trailer sized bays, the new facility can offer storage for a variety of needs, from small-scale props to large-scale sets
  • Inventory Control: a detailed inventory system to make it easy for clients to track and access their stored assets
  • Secure Storage: The facility provides a safe and secure environment for valuable sets and props
  • Flexible Solutions: able to cater to the needs of different productions, with flexible storage options for short-term or long-term storage
  • Expert Handling: a trained team experienced in handling theatre sets
  •  Refurbishment: light repairs, refurbishment and repainting by the Nottingham Playhouse expert team, priced on application
  • Convenient Location: The facility is located on Little Tennis Street, Nottingham, near both Junctions 24 and 25 of the M1, offering convenient access

Nottingham Playhouse is committed to reducing the environmental impacts of its work and improving its sustainability credentials. 75% of its staff are trained in Carbon Literacy and it holds a Carbon Literate Organisation Silver Award. Nottingham Playhouse won the Nottinghamshire Tourism Award for Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism in 2025 and is shortlisted again this year for the newly named Regenerative Tourism Award. It was also shortlisted for the East Midlands Business of the Year Awards for Sustainability.

Nottingham Playhouse has gained industry wide recognition for offering training opportunities across all its technical and production departments. In recent years, three Creative Venue Technicians have graduated from their Apprenticeships, with two of them currently in permanent roles at Nottingham Playhouse. Two of these positions were supported by The Mackintosh Foundation. In addition, a Scenic Artist and Trainee Draughtsperson have both completed their 2 year re-training positions, both funded by the Theatre Artist Fund. Nottingham Playhouse plan to build on this success and offer further opportunities as part of this exciting new facility.

Contact storage@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk or visit the webpage for further information.