From Repertory to Community Stage
Leatherhead Theatre, also known as The Thorndike Theatre in honour of Dame Sybil Thorndike, has a theatrical pedigree stretching back to 1951. For decades it operated as one of Britain’s last true repertory theatres, producing its own plays with a resident company and launching the careers of many actors who went on to national prominence.
Following a period of closure and renovation, the theatre reopened under community management and now presents a curated programme of touring productions, one–night comedy and music acts, and locally produced shows. Its 530–seat auditorium retains excellent sightlines and a warm, traditional atmosphere that performers and audiences alike appreciate.
Keeping Live Theatre Alive in Mole Valley
Leatherhead Theatre serves as the cultural anchor for the northern Mole Valley, drawing audiences from Ashtead, Bookham, Fetcham and Cobham as well as the town itself. Its youth theatre and education programmes engage hundreds of young people each year, nurturing the next generation of performers and theatregoers.
The building also houses a café bar, rehearsal rooms and function spaces used for everything from weddings to corporate events. Ongoing investment by its trust and supporters ensures the theatre remains a going concern, preserving live performance in a part of Surrey that might otherwise be underserved.
