Vital work to pave the way for the restoration and reopening of Derby’s Guildhall Theatre has been approved – seven years after it closed.

It means the £25 million revival of the Grade II-listed theatre moves a significant step forward.

The city centre venue, which was often used by amateur theatre groups, closed in January 2019 due to safety concerns.

But after years of no activity, a major refurbishment was announced in 2024 to reopen the historic building. This came after the Government injected millions of pounds into the city.

The Government allocated half of a £20 million cash boost for the city to help revive the Guildhall Theatre.

In total, the restoration is expected to cost £24.55 million, which will be funded by the Government’s £10 million from Levelling Up Funding and £14.55 million from Derby City Council.

It is hoped that the venue, which dates back to the 1820s, will reopen for live shows around Christmas time in 2027.

Restoration plans include a new “front-of-house” experience with an enhanced foyer, as well as a new café and box office opening onto the Market Place.

The auditorium will also be remodelled to increase the venue’s seating capacity to around 280.

Back-of-house facilities will also be renovated to make the venue more accessible. A new courtyard is also part of the project.

Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield said in 2024 the restoration would help the city council’s mission “to put culture at the heart of our city”.

A planning application was submitted in late 2025 calling for the next phase of inspection works to be carried out on the Derby City Council-owned building in preparation for its restoration.

The aim of the work is to “access, consolidate and repair the damaged and failing auditorium ceiling”.

It includes removing seats inside the auditorium and placing them into storage so the building’s structure can be further examined.

News of the approval of the Guildhall Theatre works comes on the same week that plans were submitted to regenerate the other side of Derby’s Market Place – at the former Assembly Rooms.

Proposals include new Grade-A office space, a four-star hotel, a multi-purpose visitor destination and “high-quality” public realm space.

WRITTEN BY: Nigel Slater