Joseph Rowntree Theatre

The Joseph Rowntree Theatre stands on Haxby Road in the northern part of York. It was built in 1935 for workers of Rowntree’s chocolate factory, alongside a library, swimming pool and bowling green. Designed by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin in the Art Deco style, it was originally named the Joseph Rowntree Hall. The building served as both a theatre and a lecture hall, connected to the factory canteen where workers could watch films during lunch breaks. Rowntree’s was later bought by Nestlé, and in 2012 the theatre was sold to York St John University. It is now operated by the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust and has been Grade II listed since 2003. The theatre is made of brown brick with concrete dressings and a pantile roof. Its main entrance on the west side has triple doors under a wooden canopy, flanked by wings with brick parapets. The ground floor projects slightly, and buttresses run along each side. At the rear, the flytower rises four storeys with plain buttresses and a flat roof. Inside, the foyer retains its original flooring, with a staircase to the left and a box office to the right. The auditorium has raked stalls and a narrow gallery with a curved front, while the stage features a proscenium arch and an orchestra pit. Original details include wooden panelling, seating and stage machinery. The building remains a well-preserved example of 1930s theatre design. Around 150 volunteers once ran the theatre, and in 2017 the in-house Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company was established. The foyer and auditorium still show the craftsmanship of the period, from the wooden canopy above the entrance to the curved gallery front. The flytower’s height allows for complex stage effects, and the original stage machinery is still in place. The theatre’s connection to the city’s industrial past adds to its character, making it a notable landmark in York.