Hiring Hyde Festival Theatre
The Front of the Theatre, pictured in 2022
Our Performance Areas
The Main House
The Main Auditorium hosts the majority of our productions, offering a diverse range of shows each season, including drama, comedy, musicals, pantomimes, and dance performances.
With a seating capacity of 230, the auditorium also provides space for up to four wheelchair users. Access is easy, with direct entry from the street and no stairs to navigate.
Convenient amenities like toilet facilities and a box office are located on the ground floor, making the Main Auditorium an ideal choice for societies and groups looking to draw a larger audience.
Together with the Madge Bayes Hall and bar, this welcoming community theatre ensures your guests feel comfortable and engaged. The auditorium features over 140 seats in the central block, with additional seating on the sides.
In addition to the main stage, two performance areas are located on either side of the stage, offering versatile options for dynamic performances.
Madge Bayes Hall
Our studio is an intimate performance venue with a seating capacity of up to 80 people.
It is ideal for small-scale productions, as well as more experimental and avant-garde theatre. The space is perfect for smaller plays, cabaret shows, music performances, and comedy events.
PLEASE NOTE: The studio is located on the first floor and is only accessible by stairs, so it may not be suitable for individuals with mobility challenges.
The Madge Bayes Hall is also available for training sessions and conferences, offering a versatile, large room. Please note that the hall is provided as a "blank canvas," meaning you'll need to arrange the provided furniture. Additionally, you will need to supply your own theatrical lighting and table/chair coverings if desired.
Theatre Availability
For the most up to date theatre calendar - please check with the Theatre Secretary
If you would like to make a booking at the theatre, please check availability above and email secretary@hydefestivaltheatre.co.uk where you will be directed to booking forms and asked to meet us at the theatre. Please be mindful that the theatre runs solely on the good faith of our volunteers and may be unavailable at times, however, we will endeavour to reply to you as quickly as possible
Hire Rates
Hyde Festival Theatre can be hired by individuals, groups and societies that wish to put on their own productions.
As of October 2024, you can hire the theatre for the following charges:
Entire Building - The Main Hall & Madge Bayes Hall:
1/2 Day Hire - £360 per day (Minimum 2 day hire if a day is a Friday, Saturday or Sunday)
+ electricity consumption + gas consumption
3+ Day Hire - £340 per day
+ electricity consumption + gas consumption
7 Day Hire - Special Rate only if Sunday-Saturday - £1,700 (£242.86 per day)
(Essentially, pay for 5 days, get 2 days hire fees for free)
+ electricity consumption + gas consumption
If not hiring one week and one of your hire days falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you are subject to a minimum of 2 day hire. Professional touring companies are encouraged to apply for what they need, if this is only one-day, we encourage you to ask for an exemption to this restriction.
Madge Bayes Hall alone* (evenings only)
£25 per hour to a maximum of £100
* Please note, if a booking for the entire theatre wishes to book your days, as an evening hirer for part of the building, you may be asked to move your hire period by the committee.
Additional Charges:
You may be charged our PRS licence fee on your invoice. The theatre will add this to your invoice. We will need to see evidence of your licence prior to your event if PRS exempt.
How hiring works:
You hire and take responsibility for the entire building during your hire period.
Hire - 12.00pm - 11.00am on day of get out.
If you require an alternative time, you must request this in advance from the Secretary to see if an alternative arrangement can be made.
The charges are subject to change every October at the Theatre's Annual General Meeting.
You will be given a handover appointment with one of our committee at the start and the end of your hire period. You will be walked around the building and given a health and safety tour. You will be given 1 or 2 sets of keys that must be returned. The caretaker will vacuum the auditorium and replenish the customer toilets during your period, however you are responsible for the cleanliness of the remaining areas of the theatre and dispose of all your rubbish. We advise that your technical personnel are present for the handover and you take photographs to remind yourself where equipment goes when you return the theatre to the committee. There may be additional charges if the theatre is not left in the same condition that you entered it in.
How to Book the Theatre
Before we allow a group to book the theatre, you must attend an in-person visit with one of the theatre officers to ensure it is suitable for your group and you understand what you are responsible for. Email secretary@hydefestivaltheatre.co.uk to arrange this.
After the visit, if suitable, you will be sent a booking form to complete. Following this, when approved, you will be sent an invoice to pay your security bond of one full day hire that is non-refundable. This must be paid within 14 days - The invoice will be cancelled if unpaid and dates released in the calendar.
New to Hyde Festival Theatre?
There's a few things to remember when looking to hire Hyde Festival Theatre:
The theatre is hired on a dry-hire basis.
Top things to remember...
1. The Theatre does not include sound or lighting engineers. You must used approved technicians and engineers or Sparks Theatre Management for your technical team.
2. You can use the theatres sound equipment and desk, with our lighting desk and lamps. These will not be plugged in, powered, angled or programmed into the patch bay or desk. Your technicians must do this. If you want coloured washes, gels must be purchased through your technicians as we do not supply them. Equipment must be left as you found it, leaving a blank canvas for the next group.
3. We have 3 fixed dressing rooms upstairs and a long room for storage or use as a 5th Dressing room. The Green Room can also be made available as Dressing Room 4 upon request.
4. We do not provide a box office service. You must provide your own box office team or use Sparks Theatre Management. You must use an online ticket provider.
5. You are solely responsible for the building and its contents throughout your hire period. Minor cleaning will be done including vacuuming the auditorium and replenishing the toilets in between your performances.
6. Any excess waste that doesn't fit into our bins must be taken away with you.
7. There may be additional charges, such as PRS, check with the secretary at time of booking.
8. The theatre's main hall holds 230 guests with space for 2 wheelchairs. The maximum occupancy cannot exceed 230 guests. The 2 staff seats must not be sold.
9. You may sell your own programmes and raffle tickets. You cannot sell any drinks, sweets or snacks under any circumstances as the theatre provides it's own affordable bar.
10. If you are selling a show programme - you must include a full page advert for the theatre. This can be downloaded from the website once your booking has been confirmed.
11. All advertising products must be sent to the PR Officer and approved by them prior to use.
There are other minor points to remember - ask the secretary for an information pack
Sparks Theatre Management are authorised technicians for the theatre.
They can provide many services for you during your time, including:
Lighting, Sound, Box Office, Online Ticketing, Front of House, Visuals, Photography, Videography & DVDs, Lavallier microphone hire, Designers for Programmes, Banners & Posters (and printing) and special effects including low smoke, haze, bubbles, snow, confetti cannons and much more.
If you decide to choose Sparks as a provider, you will need to contact them directly by emailing info@sparksem.co.uk
To give you some advise and an example of technical pricing, download the file below.
Sparks Theatre Management pride themselves on their online ticketing platform. They provide a cheaper alternative for online ticket sales at www.sparksem.co.uk and offline by calling 0161 327 2781 (Option 2)
They have many customers booking productions across different societies as their customer base reflects different societies that use the theatre and customers who have already been to the theatre.
In addition, they will provide a complimentary box office service to scan tickets and sell any remaining tickets on the door. Alternatively, you can provide your own box office team and just use the online portal.