Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH
The Cockpit is a fringe theatre in Marylebone, London. Designed by Edward Mendelsohn and built in 1969–70 by the Inner London Education Authority as the Gateforth Youth Arts Centre, it is London's first purpose-built Theatre in the round since the Great Fire of London
✉️ reception@thecockpit.org.uk
How it’s programmed
The Cockpit operates as an open-access venue with a very high turnover, booking out its rehearsal rooms and performance spaces to a huge variety of visiting companies and individual artists.
Accessibility
Provides level access to the foyer, box office, bar, and toilets. A wheelchair ramp is available via a side fire exit to avoid steep steps to the auditorium.
68 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6DZ
The Bread & Roses Theatre is an award-winning, innovative fringe theatre located in Clapham, South London, situated above The Bread & Roses Pub. It focuses on new writing, underrepresented voices, and distinctive work, with a capacity of 40–60 seats. The theatre's programming includes contemporary revivals, devised work, improvisational theatre, and comedy. It produces in-house shows and supports local creatives.
✉️ info@breadandrosestheatre.co.uk
How it’s programmed
A mix of in-house productions and visiting companies fill the schedule, with a strong emphasis on new writing, diversity, and supporting emerging artists.
Accessibility
The first-floor theatre is not wheelchair accessible, with access via a steep staircase.
153 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 0LJ
The Drayton Arms Theatre is a professional fringe theatre located on the first floor above The Drayton Arms pub in South Kensington, London. It has a history rooted in dramatic arts training and has been a permanent professional venue since 2011
✉️ enquiry@thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk
How it’s programmed
The theatre is booked on a rental basis by visiting companies, resulting in a fast-changing programme of new writing, revivals, and small-scale touring productions.
Accessibility
The theatre is located upstairs above a pub and is not wheelchair accessible, with access only via a flight of stairs.
265 Camden High St, London NW1 7BU
The Etcetera Theatre is an award-winning pub theatre in Camden Town, London, established in 1986, that supports new fringe theatre, comedy, cabaret, and musical acts. It is known for supporting new artists, hosting warm-up shows for major comedians, and being a venue for the Camden Fringe and London Horror Festival. The theatre is run by artists for artists.
✉️ admin@etceteratheatre.com
How it’s programmed
As a long-established pub theatre, the Etcetera is programmed by hiring out the space to independent companies, often for short-run productions and shows heading to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Accessibility
Is not wheelchair accessible, as the theatre space is accessed via a circular staircase inside a pub.
118 Finborough Rd, London SW10 9ED
The Finborough Theatre is a multi-award-winning, 50-seat theatre in West Brompton, London, founded in 1980 and run by Artistic Director Neil McPherson. It is known for its unique programming, which exclusively presents new writing and "rediscoveries" of plays from the 19th and 20th centuries that haven't been staged in London for at least 25 years. The theatre is a registered charity funded by individual donors and supporters.
Email: admin@finboroughtheatre.co.uk
How it’s programmed
The Finborough is programmed with a strong focus on staging new writing from the UK and internationally, as well as rediscovered plays.
Accessibility
Is not wheelchair accessible due to 23 steps leading to the theatre space, which is located up a narrow staircase in a Grade II listed pub.
115 Upper St, London N1 1QN
The King's Head Theatre is a historic pub theatre that moved from its 53-year home in the back of the King's Head Pub to a new, modern venue in Islington Square, London, which opened in January 2024. Established in 1970, it was London's oldest pub theatre, known for producing diverse, often LGBTQ+-focused, work on the city's fringe and independent theatre scene. The new location features two performance spaces: a 220-seat auditorium and a 50-seat cabaret area.
How it’s programmed
Programming at the King's Head includes a mix of in-house productions and shows from visiting companies, with a focus on new writing, musicals, and cabaret.
Accessibility
Features lifts providing step-free access to the two theatre spaces and accessible toilets, though the upper floors are not accessible.
207 Upper St, London N1 1RL
The Hope Theatre can refer to either the 17th-century Elizabethan theatre known for staging both plays and bear-baiting, or the modern 50-seat black-box venue above the Hope and Anchor pub in Islington, London. The original Hope Theatre was built in 1613 and closed in 1656, while the modern version opened in 2013 and is known for hosting world premieres and new writing.
✉️ info@thehopetheatre.com
How it’s programmed
The Hope Theatre is primarily booked by visiting companies on a box office split basis for short runs of new writing and actor-led productions.
Accessibility
Regrettably, this is not wheelchair accessible as the theatre is located up a flight of stairs inside a Grade II listed building.
138 Kennington Park Rd, London SE11 4DJ
The White Bear Theatre is an award-winning, intimate fringe theatre founded in 1988, located above the White Bear pub in Kennington, London, UK. It is a renowned venue dedicated to new writing and the revival of "lost classics," and has served as a significant development platform for numerous established theatre talents.
