Theatre Availability

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

New to Hyde Festival Theatre

Hyde Festival Theatre can be hired by individuals, groups and societies that wish to put on their own productions.

As of 12th October 2022, you can hire the theatre for the following charges:

NEW BOOKINGS FROM 12th OCTOBER 2022:

Entire Building - The Main Hall & Madge Bayes Hall:

£330 per day + electricity consumption + gas consumption

or £1,645 for Sunday-Saturday 7-day bookings (essentially pay for 5 days and get 2 free)

Please note: 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)

£40 per hour to a maximum of £140

* 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. 

Daily Hire - 9am-9am where available - if you are following in a weekly booking, they will be getting out at 11am and your handover/hire period will start at 12pm.

Weekly Hire - Sundays 12pm-Sunday 11am

The charges are subject to change every October at the Theatre's Annual General Meeting.

Bookings made prior to 12th October 2022 will be charged £235.00 per day plus electricity and gas consumption.

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 10 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 must provide an appropriate front of house team (minimum of 3) that assist your guests should the need arise. We recommend training for your team or bring them with you to the handover. Alternatively, as of September 2023, you can request (through the secretary) for the theatre volunteers to support you with manning front of house.

6. 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.

7. Any excess waste that doesn't fit into our bins must be taken away with you.

8. There may be additional charges, such as PRS, check with the secretary at time of booking.

9. 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.

10. 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.

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.