Curtain up on 50 years: Arena Theatre celebrates its Golden Anniversary

The Arena Theatre, University of Wolverhampton will celebrate its 50th anniversary on 3 March 2026, marking half a century of performance, creativity and community engagement in the heart of the city.

Founded in the mid-1970s as part of the University’s growing commitment to drama and theatre, the Arena Theatre grew from the vision of Philip Tilstone, the University’s first Lecturer in Drama, who was appointed in 1967 with a brief not only to develop drama academically, but to embed theatre within the life of the local community.

From its earliest days, the Arena Theatre was conceived as a shared space for students, professional artists and local audiences, hosting touring productions, student performances and community work. Originally created from a former college gymnasium, the venue quickly became a vital cultural hub for Wolverhampton and the wider West Midlands.

Over the decades, the Arena has played host to thousands of performances and some of the UK’s most respected touring companies, alongside international work, experimental theatre, dance and music. Its reputation has been built on championing creativity, access and innovation - values which continue to define the theatre today.

Neil Reading, Artistic Director, Arena Theatre said: "We are delighted to be celebrating this important milestone for the venue. What began as a renegade expression of creativity has become a hub for new and developing artists representing the diverse audiences of our city, providing crucial cultural experiences for the thousands of visitors we welcome every year.

 As we reflect on the past we look to our future and our continued service to our city, our region and our audiences.”

A look back on five decades

Among the Arena Theatre’s many standout moments are its major redevelopment in 1999, made possible through £1.25 million in Lottery funding. The refurbishment transformed the venue into a modern theatre and teaching complex and cemented its reputation as one of the most accessible theatres in the country, which it still maintains to this day.

More recently, the Arena led the University of Wolverhampton’s city-wide Artsfest festival from 2015 to 2017, with the 2016 edition attracting 32,000 visitors, its most successful year.

The venue has also been at the forefront of international collaboration, producing and hosting Creative Europe-funded projects including POP Drama in 2016, welcoming writers from across the UK, Romania, Spain and Italy, and Kukunor/Kalahari in 2018, a groundbreaking multilingual production involving seven countries and a mixed d/Deaf and hearing cast, which toured nationally following its premiere at the Arena.

The Arena’s commitment to nurturing talent has seen success stories such as former Head of Lighting Jamie Harley, who began training at the theatre aged 14 and has since gone on to work on major national productions including Starlight Express and The Hunger Games. Writer Michael Southan, now a member of the Arena’s board, also began his journey through the theatre’s Artist Development programme and has since written for BBC Radio 4 and toured nationally.

Long-running in-house projects such as the 14/48 Wolverhampton speed theatre festival, which involved more than 800 artists over ten years, and the Dark Tales in Winter Christmas productions, which have been part of the programme since 2019, further demonstrate the Arena’s creative ambition. In 2025, its adaptation of The Face by E.F. Benson toured to Chichester Festival Theatre.

A theatre rooted in its community

For five decades, the Arena Theatre has remained deeply rooted in the Wolverhampton community. For 27 years, it has worked closely with Mosaic Disability Theatre, providing free weekly rehearsal space, production support and a platform as part of its annual Festive Frivolities community show.

The Arena’s commitment to young people is reflected in initiatives such as the Grand Arena Youth Theatre, run in partnership with Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and now entering its tenth year, and Project Xpedition, a performance and arts management programme founded and delivered with partners Flexus Dance Collective for 11–16-year-olds that offers recognised Arts Award qualifications and real pathways into creative careers.

The theatre also plays a leadership role in inclusion and access, co-running Active Access, a forum bringing together local venues and people with disabilities to improve accessibility across the city’s cultural spaces.

Alongside this, the Arena hosts regular artist development nights, spoken word events, drag performance platforms, and has been a longstanding partner of major city events including Wolverhampton Literature Festival, TEDxWolverhampton and Wolverhampton Film Festival.

Community voices

Local theatre-goer Gerald Kells, who has been attending performances at the Arena for many years, said: "We enjoy going to the Arena. The shows are quirky, varied and high quality, as well as being reasonably priced. It is a delightful venue, and the staff are always helpful” 

Looking ahead

As it marks its 50th birthday, the Arena Theatre continues to look forward - supporting emerging artists, championing diverse voices and ensuring theatre remains accessible, relevant and rooted in its community for generations to come.