Frequently Asked Questions
A pub theatre is just what is sounds like, a theatre that is located in a pub. Generally it is located in a back room or upstairs. The concept of a pub theatre grows out of the concept of the pub as the center of a community. Many pubs had back rooms that were used for meeting rooms, political offices or gymnasiums. The concept of converting these rooms to theatres seemed only natural.
Generally the pub and the theatre have a kind of symbiotic relationship. The pub draws people for the theatre and the theatre draws people for the pub.
What is so special about a pub theatre?
One of the most exciting things about pub theatres is the intimacy of the performances. Because pub theatres are generally in small performances spaces above a pub or in a back room, you rarely will have a seat more than four or five rows from the action. When action happens (a loud noise, a slamming door, live music, etc), you actually feel the action in your gut, you aren't separated from it like you can be in a larger West End or Broadway theatre.
The relationship between the pub and the theatre can also be very special. You can spend a whole evening in a pub theatre, getting a drink (and often dinner) in the pub, going to the show and then grabbing an ale to talk about it afterwards. Before and after the show you will usually find fellow patrons to talk to about the performance or production. You will also often run into performers or technicians from the show in the pub after the performance.
Generally, in a pub theatre you can bring your drink with you into the theatre for the show. Some pub theatres require that you get your drink in a special glass (plastic rather than glass), so be sure to let your bartender know that you plan to bring your drink into the play if you grab an ale before the show.
Of course, the most special thing about a pub theatre depends on the same thing that is most special about any theatre, the performance. Like any other theatre, performances in a pub theatre can range from incredible to mediocre or worse. The quality of the show is dependent on the script, the actors, the director, the designers, the production company and all the other things that will impact the quality of a performance at any theatre. Just like any other theatre, try to do some research before you go see the show (although some of the theatres noted on this site can be counted on for strong production qualities--actors, directors, designers, etc--no matter what the production).
London is the city where you will find the most pub theatres. It is something of a tradition at many pubs and you can find them in pubs all over the London. This site lists the address and contact information for a number of well know and well established pub theatres. It also describes some basic information about the theatre (where I have that information available).
You can generally find the latest information about what is playing, show times and ticket prices in news papers and magazines that specialize in the arts. There are excellent listings for London pub theatres in "Time Out" and "What's On". You can check the "Village Voice" in New York. Pub theatres are not usually called out as pub theatres, but are rather listed under sections titled "Off-West End," "Fringe," "Off-off-Broadway". In London any theatre that lists "XXXX Arms" as part of its address is likely located in a pub.
You can also call the theatres listed on this site to see what is playing and if tickets are available.
What kind of shows will I see at pub theatres?
Just about any kind of show. You can see dramas, comedies, new plays, old plays, major revivals, Shakespeare and even musicals. But you shouldn't expect to see big spectacles. The theatres are small and the actors and directors generally work very hard to take advantage of the intimacy and immediacy offered by the performance space.
Many pub theatres specialize in particular types of plays that reflect their neighborhood or the taste of their artistic directors. Some theatres focus on foreign plays, while others focus on new writing. Some of England's most influential writers began their careers by having their plays produced in pub theatres. Some of them still use pub theatres to workshop and tryout plays.
Why would I want to go to a pub theatre?
There are lots of reasons to go to pub theatres. They include: