Little Theatre Gateshead

The Little Theatre in Gateshead stands on a former derelict site where three houses once stood. Built during the Second World War, it is the only theatre constructed in Britain during that period. The project began in 1939 but faced interruptions when the site was used as a barrage balloon station. A nearby bomb in Saltwell Park damaged windows and doors, yet the theatre opened on 13 October 1943 with *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*. Today it belongs to the Progressive Players Ltd, who stage ten plays each year. The theatre’s survival owes much to the Dodds sisters—Ruth, Sylvia and M. Hope—who funded its construction. In the 1960s and 1970s, plans to demolish it for a road threatened its existence, but the threat was lifted. In 1989, an extra house was bought to ease crowding and now holds a rehearsal space, coffee bar and art gallery. Recent work in 2012–13 and 2015 improved the foyer, bar and backstage areas, adding a dressing room and archive office. Inside, the auditorium hosts plays and occasional hire by schools, colleges and societies. A new studio space opened in 2021 provides rehearsal and cabaret use. The Progressive Players, founded in 1920, began as a political group but now produce non-political theatre. They have won festival rounds and returned to the stage after COVID-19 closures with *Lockdown in Little Grimley*. The building remains largely self-supporting, run by volunteers and supported by grants.