Malvern Theatres

Malvern Theatres stands in the town centre of Great Malvern, Worcestershire, within the Winter Gardens complex on Grange Road. Built as an arts centre in 1885, it has hosted festivals, plays and music for over a century. The theatre first became known for its George Bernard Shaw productions in the 1930s. Edward Elgar’s music was added to the programme from 1977 onwards. Six Shaw plays premiered here, including The Apple Cart in 1929. The theatre’s history includes wartime closures and several refurbishments. A major rebuild in 1998 created an 850-seat Festival Theatre, a Forum Theatre, a 400-seat cinema and a bar and restaurant. Productions have ranged from Shakespeare’s Othello in 1966 to the comedy Killing Castro in 2006. The complex remains a provincial arts hub with a long record of premieres and revivals. Visitors find a modern theatre complex alongside Edwardian Winter Gardens architecture. The Festival Theatre seats 850, while the smaller Forum Theatre hosts talks and recitals. The cinema and restaurant provide further entertainment. The surrounding town offers Malvern Hills walks and Priory views.