Curtain Theatre Rochdale

The Curtain Theatre was established in 1925 “for the vigorous performance of unusual plays, for the development of stagecraft and for the provision of pleasure for as many as care to seek it in this form”. 

The Theatre took its name from the Elizabethan ‘Curtyn Theatre’, in London, at which Shakespearean plays were first performed (even before The Globe Theatre’s existence). 

Initially putting on productions at the Drill Hall, near the old fire station, and in 1930 moved into the school hall of St Luke’s Primary in Deeplish. 

The Curtain Theatre moved into its present premises on Milkstone Road in 1933. Not even the war stopped productions. The only year missed in our entire history is 2020 during Covid. 

Considerable work was done to transform the building into a theatre and further alterations over the following years to give you the 180 seat theatre that you see today. We are the last remaining functioning theatre in Rochdale. 

The lock and key logo that can be seen on our letterheads and our foyer carpet has various interpretations. The “key to another world “ “to transport members of the audience to the world of magic and imagination”.