Queen's Theatre

The Queen’s Theatre stands in Burslem, a town centre of Stoke-on-Trent’s Potteries district. Built in ashlar stone, its front shows a full-height portico with three pairs of Corinthian columns and a plain attic above. Between each pair of columns is a large doorway, and to the right a plainer two-storey wing holds ten windows on each floor. Inside, a white marble staircase rises at each end of the foyer, leading to side and rear balconies in the auditorium. The ceiling there is rich with Art Deco plasterwork and large lamps. The theatre was first planned as Burslem’s town hall in the early 20th century. After the city’s federation made that purpose unnecessary, it opened in 1911 as a theatre for plays, concerts and other entertainments. By the late 1990s it needed repairs and closed, reopening briefly from 2003 before closing again in 2014. A statue of Lemmy Kilmister, the local rock musician, now stands near the entrance, unveiled in 2025. Restoration plans aim to return the building as a music and arts venue for the community. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has agreed with IFK Legacy CIC to explore ways of giving Burslem a new cultural heart. Councillor Jane Ashworth described the theatre as one of the most important buildings in the Conservation Area. Work will preserve the marble staircases, decorative ceilings and original doorways while readying the space for modern performances.