The Official Shelley Theatre

13/10/2025

Hello to all the wonderful Shelley supporters. Unfortunately there is still no news to report about the reopening of the Theatre venue.

We are trying to secure a financially secure plan too reopen and have been in discussions with a number of groups and companies one of which is ongoing.

Whatever you may read or see in the press the theatre remains closed following the pandemic and has not reopened.

The economic climate for live performance venues has been an incredibly challenging space, and like many others, we’re still working through the long-term effects.

There are currently no shows booked for this Friday or for the rest of the year, including any with Adrienne Coles’s Coastal Comedy.

We hope to see the lights back on one day soon, but for now the theatre remains closed.

So just to clear up any confusion — the theatre is still closed and there aren’t any events scheduled at the moment.

There are no bookings this Friday or later in the year with Adrienne Coles.

It’s a shame to see a concerted marketing of misinformation going around, especially when so many people care about the theatre and are keen to see it re open.

We’ll be sure to share any real updates when there’s news to share.

We are actively looking to find a financially secure group that has the financial capacity to operate the venue with resources adequate for the sustainability of the venue.

23/08/2022

It has been a while since we have posted, here is a little update for you on our plans with the Theatre. https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20671061.future-holds-bournemouths-shelley-theatre/ -anchor

If you are able to help us in any way we have created a crowdfunding page the first few months trying to get a team back in place will be difficult - https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/shelleytheatretrust

A BELOVED Bournemouth theatre which has been closed for more than two years due to Covid hopes to reopen in time for its panto next year.

05/12/2020

Did you know that today is National Volunteers Day!

We just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers past and present, you have all been a part of the journey in restoring a once derelict building to something special! Thank you!

We are still closed unfortunately but being a small venue and with the restrictions it’s not financially viable for us to open.

We do however look forward to having our volunteer team back together, we miss you!

Zoe x

24/06/2020

Update: The post about the broken window has overall been very well received and achieved its desired effect in that a mother of one of the lads has contacted us with a very remorseful and apologetic boy and they are wanting to fund the repairs. Thank you to the mother who contacted us and thank you to everybody who has been in touch your support is hugely appreciated. The mother has requested that we take down the just giving page as they will fund the necessary repairs. Thank you to those who have already donated to us, please could you contact us about where to direct your kind donations.

23/06/2020

Update: This post has overall been very well received and achieved its desired effect in that a mother of one of the lads has contacted us with a very remorseful and apologetic boy and they are wanting to fund the repairs. Thank you to the mother who contacted us and thank you to everybody who has been in touch your support is hugely appreciated. The mother has requested that we take down the just giving page as they will fund the necessary repairs. Thank you to those who have already donated to us, please could you contact us about where to direct your kind donations

Sadly, last Monday evening two youths decided it was a good idea to kick a football against the theatre as hard as they could, aiming for the windows. It took half an hour before they succeeded and unfortunately, they broke one of the original Victorian half-moon windows above the doors. We have not managed to get a contractor to look at the damage from the inside yet to see if the ball also damaged the original louvered blacking out system that Shelley put in place to darken his theatre.

It is a great sadness as we will now have to claim on our insurance to get this repaired. The excess for this is £1,000 which when we have been broken into before we have smiled and paid but in these very tricky times, we have no income coming in and this is £1,000 we do not have. Its not just the cost of new glass and whatever damage might or might not have been caused to the louvres, its having to get two people happy to work at height at night to come out with a scaffold tower to board up a half moon shaped window is another big expense.

We are very grateful for all the support from the local community who helped us raise funds for a CCTV system after our last break in. We have video evidence of these youths kicking a ball against the doors and windows and we are also very grateful for a member of the public who alerted us to the fact that the window had been broken and also took a photo of them cycling off immediately after the breakage.

If you recognise these youths please contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55200085804. Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call freephone 0800 555 111.…..

Yesterday we made the decision to put fencing up around the building to try and protect it from further damage and to stop members of the public from using the back of our building as a public convenience.

15/06/2020

Who doesn't need a bit of magic in their life right now? The fabulous Tom Brace Magic is set to present his brand new show from isolation!
Join him live from his home on the 28th June as he explores what it really means to stay connected.

Tickets are limited. Buy here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tom-brace-connected-tickets-108905497274?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

https://facebook.com/events/s/tom-brace-connected/3011934162178906/?ti=icl

Tom Brace presents a brand new magic show from isolation! Join him live from his home as he explores what it really means to stay connected.

12/06/2020

You might have read in the Echo today that we made the difficult decision to postpone our summer season, we held on as long as we could in the hope that we would be able to go ahead, but unfortunately the safety and well being of patrons, volunteers and staff has to be our main priority.

We have been working with the London Repertory Players since 2016 and we were all very much looking forward to this year’s selection of plays. It looked to be the best one yet.

We are currently running with a very much reduced staff, but we will be calling over the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for all your support, it is very much appreciated, Zoe.

14/05/2020

A very exciting night for all of us at the Shelley Theatre! Looking forward to Dirt In The Gate Movies returning when we open our doors once again.

06/05/2020

Need a theatre fix? There's just 2 more days to catch the online showing of Danny Boyle's international theatre sensation Frankenstein...based of course, on the novel by our very own Mary Shelley!

With Jonny Lee Miller as the creature and Benedict Cumberbatch as Victor Frankenstein.

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/nt-at-home-frankenstein

29/04/2020

We might have to wait until 10th December to see the fabulous stage show - Histories of the Unexpected, but Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell, creators of the hugely popular podcast series, are keeping busy producing Homeschooling Specials every week to see us (and our kids) through the lockdown!

They're also launching a campaign to engage youngsters in oral history of this extraordinary time which, according to Dr Willis "could possibly become a defining chapter in tomorrow’s history books". Take a look here:

Explore the Histories of the Unexpected with homeschoolers. Professor James Daybell talks about the special editions of the popular podcast produced for...