The venue was founded by director Stephen Joseph in 1955, initially located in the Scarborough Public Library before moving to its permanent home.
Alan Ayckbourn served as the theatre's artistic director for over 35 years and remains its most prolific resident playwright.
The interior of the 'Round' auditorium is specifically designed so that no member of the audience is ever more than a few rows from the action.
The building was originally designed as an Odeon cinema, with construction completed in 1936.
The theatre complex contains a specific 'round' stage configuration that forces actors to play to all sides of the room simultaneously.
The venue features an extensive archive of scripts and production history related to Ayckbourn's career.
The Stephen Joseph Theatre is a pioneering venue in Scarborough that popularized the theatre-in-the-round format in the United Kingdom. Housed within the former 1930s art deco Odeon cinema, the building underwent a major conversion to accommodate two performance spaces: the Round and the McCarthy. It serves as the home base for the playwright Alan Ayckbourn, who has premiered the vast majority of his plays at this venue. The site includes a restaurant and bar, integrating dining with the arts experience. The theatre maintains a commitment to new writing, frequently hosting world premieres of contemporary dramas and comedies. Beyond its main stages, the venue functions as a community hub, hosting youth drama programs and creative workshops. The building retains original art deco exterior features despite its modern internal reconfiguration. It is one of the few permanent professional theatre-in-the-round venues globally.
The art deco entrance facade facing Westborough provides the best architectural photo opportunity.
Book seats in the back rows of the circle for a broader view of the stage movement in the round.
Arrive early to eat at the on-site restaurant, which is specifically designed to allow diners to finish before the performance begins.
Check the 'What's On' calendar specifically for Alan Ayckbourn premieres, which are cultural highlights for the venue.
Do not wait until the day of the performance to book, as popular plays, especially those written by Ayckbourn, often sell out well in advance.
The theatre remains open throughout the year but operates reduced schedules during the transition periods between production seasons.
