About

What is Future of Theatre?

Future of Theatre is an award-winning conference for the entire theatre sector. The conference brings theatre professionals from across the world together and provides a platform to have vital conversations, reflect, share ideas and challenge the way things have previously been done in order to build a stronger theatre sector. Future of Theatre 2021 was the first of its kind to bring the entire theatre sector together since the start of the pandemic, with over 700 attendees online from over 21 countries.

Since then, the event has continued to grow - offering an extravaganza of keynotes, presentations and panel discussions featuring the industry’s most influential voices, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Nica Burns, Matthew Xia, Nancy Medina, Paule Constable, Amy Trigg and Athena Stevens. Last year’s conference was held at @sohoplace, London where over 300 theatremakers gathered in person with hundreds of delegates also having online access.

You can view the 2024 programme here, and the 2025 programme here.

Future of Theatre won Event of the Year at the PPA Independent Publishers Awards.

When is Future of Theatre 2026?

Future of Theatre conference
Tuesday, April 28
Soho Theatre, Walthamstow, E17 4QH
9am - 6pm (including a networking drinks reception)

Accessibility

At The Stage, we aim to make all of our events as accessible as possible. An access host can be assigned to you to ensure you are comfortable and have a clear point of contact throughout the day. To request this, or if there is any further assistance you need, please do make us aware by emailing events@thestage.co.uk.

We know that conferences can require a lot of focus, and so our delegates are welcome to use the foyer areas on each level should you need a break. If you want to stretch your legs, please feel free to leave and re-enter the auditorium as you need.
The conference will be BSL interpreted, using theatre specific interpreters.
There is lift access to each level of the theatre.
There is a unisex adaptable toilet on each level of the theatre. There are Ladies and Gentleman’s toilets on all levels,.
Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome and for comfort, we recommend sitting on the end of a row. We ask that you make us aware if you’re bringing a guide dog, at the time of making your booking.

For further details about the venue, you can visit the accessibility page for Soho Theatre Walthamstow.

Showcase your brand

The Future of Theatre conference, in association with Moore Kingston Smith, could not happen without the generous support from our sponsors.

Spotlight your organisation and expertise alongside key industry figures from across the arts industry by becoming a sponsor.

To find out more about how your company can support the future of our industry, contact Sales manager sarah.dumay@thestage.co.uk

About our sponsors

Moore Kingston Smith

headline sponsor

Moore Kingston Smith are the go-to accountants and advisers for theatre, both West End and regional, and hub for Broadway producers transferring shows to the UK. The specialist team is immersed in the sector, delivering advice tailored to the unique demands of the industry.
Moore Kingston Smith are experts in theatre tax credits and have been involved right from the start, working with the industry to design a scheme that has become a vital part of the funding mix. With the team exclusively working in the sector, they fully understand the pressure points of production and can help, not only with tax credits, but also with accounts, tax structuring, payroll, furlough queries and business strategy.

Arts Council England

ACE are the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our

strategic vision in Let's Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.

Bectu

Bectu is the union for creative ambition and a sector of Prospect trade union. We represent nearly 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in the media and entertainment industries. We have responded to the changes of an increasingly self-employed workforce and are the UK’s largest union for freelancers. Our members work in non-performance roles in live events, broadcasting, film and cinema, digital media, independent production, leisure, fashion, theatre and the arts. As the largest union at the BBC, and with a strong presence in many of the UK’s leading theatres, arts centres and independent broadcasting and production companies, Bectu is here for you at every step of your career – whether you’re a staff member, worker or are self-employed.

LAMDA

LAMDA – the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art – is the oldest drama school in the UK and a pioneering conservatoire offering exceptional vocational training through full-time and short courses. It was ranked number one in The Guardian’s UK Universities Guide for Drama and Dance and as one of the top 10 global drama schools in The Hollywood Reporter. LAMDA's history with organisations like the Fulbright Scholarship have long made it a beacon for international training. Notable alumni include actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Leah Harvey and Brian Cox, directors Rebecca Frecknall and Tinuke Craig, and technical practitioners Natasha Chivers and Tingying Dong.

Preevue

Preevue is a leading provider of LiDAR laser scanning and 3D CAD visualisation for theatre, live events, and media & entertainment.

Their services include laser scanning, the creation of 3D Digital Twins, theatre production visualisation, and bespoke box office views-from-seats. Preevue produce architecturally and visually accurate 3D CAD models of venues and set designs that enable creative and production teams to work in digital replicas, minimising time needed on-site and reducing the need for travel.

Preevue clients include ATG, LW Theatres, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, the Royal Opera House, Disney, the National Theatre, Barbican Centre, the RSC, and English National Opera. Outside of theatre, media & entertainment clients include NBCUniversal, Paramount and Disney.

Rocket Storage Services

Rocket Storage Services offer a theatre scenery storage, disposal and recycling service, helping theatre companies realize their green book ambitions.

We have two warehouses housing over 200 trailers of scenery, and a dedicated unit for dismantling sets.

Where possible materials are salvaged and fed back into the theatre industry. Materials that cannot be recycled or reused are sent to a local biomass plant helping to power 20,000 homes in Nottingham.

In the year we have been recycling we are proud to say we are zero to landfill company.

Every set has a story, and we ensure it ends responsibly.

StaffSavvy

Regardless of whether you are managing a team of 50 or 5000, StaffSavvy has the tools to create & manage your team’s shifts easily.
We’ve built the platform with real-world experience, working with some of the world's busiest venues. Whether you have a 100-seat auditorium or a multi-site network with thousands of seats, we can help you automate and digitise your schedules, payroll, and much more.
Our software combines recruitment management, HR tools, document management, learning management, online training, shift planning, compliance tools, timesheets, communication tools, and more on one platform.

Theatreplan

For 40 years, Theatreplan has been creating amazing spaces worldwide, allowing performances to flourish at every scale, from international opera houses to studio theatres. Through their dedicated team of friendly, expert practitioners, they ensure that projects are seen through to completion with a pragmatic and cost-aware approach, focusing on high quality, safety, and usability. Recent projects include the redevelopments of the newly opened Fareham Live, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, which opens later this year, and Esplanade Theatres-on-the-Bay in Singapore. They are the consultants of choice for some of the world's leading venues, including Sydney Opera House, where they undertake complex technical upgrades which prioritise sustainability and innovative design.

Non-editorial