Angles Theatre

The Angles Theatre is a Georgian playhouse in Wisbech, a market town on the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire. It stands among Britain’s oldest surviving theatres, its main building dating from 1790. A former infant school of 1837, now used as an arts venue, is joined to the original structure and both are Grade II listed. The theatre’s patrons include actors Sir Derek Jacobi and Dame Cleo Laine, comedian Jo Brand and biographer Claire Tomalin. The building has witnessed over two centuries of performances and changes of use. It began as part of the Lincoln theatre circuit and hosted regular shows until about 1850. Later it served as a concert room, a schoolroom for science and art, and briefly fell out of theatrical use. In 1978 it reopened as The Angles Theatre, restoring its role as a venue for drama and the arts. Inside, visitors find two linked buildings: the restored Georgian playhouse with its painted ceiling and tiered boxes, and the converted schoolroom used for rehearsals and smaller events. The theatre still presents plays, musical evenings and community productions throughout the year. Outside, the town’s market square and historic streets provide a quiet setting for a visit before or after the show.