Chester Storyhouse

Storyhouse stands in Chester, a city known for its Roman past and medieval streets. The building occupies the shell of the 1936 Odeon Cinema, a Grade II-listed Art Deco structure designed by Robert Bullivant under Harry Weedon. A modern extension now houses the theatre, while the original cinema auditorium serves as a smaller screen. The complex also contains a restaurant, a bar and the city’s library, all arranged around a lofty lobby that doubles as an informal performance space. The £37 million project was the largest regional arts scheme in the UK when it opened in 2017. Cheshire West and Chester Council provided most of the funding, with support from Arts Council England and MBNA. Alex Clifton became the first artistic director in 2015 and shaped the programme from the start. The building’s design reused the old proscenium arch and uncovered Roman road remains during excavation. Within a year it welcomed more than a million visitors and hosted events such as the Literature Festival with poet Lemn Sissay. Inside, the main auditorium seats up to 800 for visiting shows or 500 in thrust format for in-house productions. A 150-seat studio theatre and bar sit above it, while the original cinema hangs suspended over the restaurant. Bookshelves are integrated among the public areas, and a children’s library offers a dedicated storytelling room. The lobby between old and new parts can host performances or film screenings, with a temporary screen lowered from the old arch. Outside, Chester’s cathedral and Victorian town hall remain close by, framing the building’s modern role within a historic setting.