Theatre in Lincoln

Trust us, you don’t want to know what’s happened inside the Lincoln Drill Hall over the years. The Victorian building was used as a military training base before opening its doors to the public for dances, bingo nights, wrestling, oh and the odd live band here and there – here’s one you might have heard of, The Rolling Stones played a gig at the Drill Hall in 1963.

The building picked up a fair bit of wear and tear over the years, but ever since its reopening following extensive refurbishment in 2004, Lincoln Drill Hall has become one of the city’s most important centres for culture and entertainment.

More than 150,000 people visit every year for its diverse programme and excellent productions of live theatre, comedy, music, pantos and dance shows. And it’s also the home of the annual Lincoln Beer Festival. There’s also Northern Soul all-dayers and it’s the venue for the Lincoln Comedy Festival, having been home to the city’s much-loved Red Herring Comedy Club for more than a decade.

There’s been a playhouse at the site of the New Theatre Royal since 1764. The current incarnation’s extravagantly gilded decor is testament to the fact that it was built towards the end of the Victorian period. It has changed hands more times than we can remember, but the Grade II-listed building has been carefully preserved and is still a fully working theatre today.


It’s a venue that strikes the rare balance between feeling both decadent and intimate at the same time. We can only recommend that you make your way to Lincoln’s historic Cultural Quarter to see a show for yourself. The 475-seat venue hosts everything from family pantos like Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland, to stand-up comedy, plays, magicians, opera and ballet. Plus, our Lincoln City Centre hotel is conveniently located just a few minute’s walk from both the New Theatre Royal and Lincoln Drill Hall.

For an even more intimate entertainment experience, The Terry O’Toole Theatre is a 200-seat arts theatre opened by famous actor Jim Broadbent in 2002. It runs an inclusive programme of dance showcases, live music, contemporary drama, original writing and children's shows.

Lincoln’s also the home of the touring Chapterhouse Theatre Company, which puts on open-air performances across the country. Originally they stuck to Shakespeare, but now their programme spans the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Alice and Wonderland. You’ll have to check their website to see if they’re playing any local gigs during your stay.