Abbey Theatre

The Abbey Theatre stands on Pool Bank Street in Nuneaton, a converted Territorial Army drill hall managed by volunteers from the Nuneaton Arts Council. The building hosts touring shows, musicals, pantomimes, drama, dance, comedy and film screenings. It is run by the charity Nuneaton Arts CIO and draws over 30,000 visitors each year. The theatre opened in 1974 after local arts enthusiasts converted the drill hall. In the 1980s it became the town’s only cinema after the Ritz closed. A 2003 asbestos discovery forced a six-month closure, but the venue reopened after a rescue deal with the council. In 2007 contractors sealed emergency doors with concrete, delaying a performance by half an hour. The theatre also survived a 2008 demolition next door that threatened a whole winter season. Inside, the main house seats 250 with four wheelchair spaces and a low stage. The bar hosts smaller events and shows event adverts on screens. The Milby room holds up to 60 people for rehearsals and meetings, while the Etone Lounge seats up to 100 for small productions and rehearsals. The building has hosted a ghost hunters convention, BBC Radio One sessions and arts events during Heritage Open Weekend.