East Riding Theatre

The East Riding Theatre stands in Beverley, a converted former Baptist church built in 1910. Designed by G. F. Pennington in the English Free style, it features red brick with stone dressings and a slate roof. The front has a stone porch with two doorways and a large traceried window above. A wooden bellcote sits on the roof, and a staircase projects from the left side. Inside, the theatre holds 192 seats around a thrust stage. The building’s history includes service as a Particular Baptist church until 1964. After closing, it briefly housed vaccination clinics and later the council’s archives from 1995 to 2007. In 2013, plans were approved to turn it into a theatre, which opened in 2014. Vincent Regan founded the theatre and raised funds through local sponsorship and filming of *Dad’s Army*. Adrian Rawlins and later Richard Avery have since taken on the role of artistic director. Visitors find a theatre and café within the restored church. The auditorium’s layout keeps the original architectural details, including the traceried window and bellcote. The thrust stage brings performances close to the audience, while the café offers a place to relax. The building’s history remains visible in its design and layout. The theatre now hosts plays, performances, and community events in Beverley’s cultural scene.