Leicester Haymarket Theatre

The Leicester Haymarket Theatre stands in the centre of Leicester beside the Haymarket Shopping Centre. It was designed by Building Design Partnership to replace the smaller Phoenix Theatre. When it opened in 1973 the main auditorium held 750 seats and a large stage suitable for opera or ballet. A later conversion created the Studio Theatre with 120 seats for more intimate performances. A striking Metal Tree sculpture by Hubert Dalwood was placed outside the entrance in 1974. The theatre earned a strong reputation for musicals under directors Robin Midgley and Michael Bogdanov. Robert Mandell served as musical director and many productions transferred to the West End and Broadway. Shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Guys and Dolls were staged here. The Leicester Theatre Trust ran the venue until 2007, when it moved to the Curve Theatre. After a decade of closure it briefly reopened for performances before closing again in 2020. Today the building serves as a teaching and performing base for a dance school. Visitors can still see the main auditorium and the smaller Studio Theatre inside. The Metal Tree sculpture remains in front of the entrance. The surrounding area includes the Haymarket Shopping Centre and Belgrave Gate. The theatre’s history is visible in its architecture and the nearby sculpture.