Local Theatre Touring Alliance (LTTA) launches with sector-wide survey of venue managers to tackle growing crisis.

Today sees the launch of the Local Theatre Touring Alliance (LTTA) — a new collaborative initiative to strengthen the future of theatres in towns and smaller cities across the UK.

The Alliance brings together theatres, producers, policymakers, and funders to respond to mounting pressures on local venues, including rising costs, skills shortages, ageing infrastructure, and a shrinking pool of high-quality touring productions.

At the heart of LTTA’s first phase is a national survey of venue managers, aiming to build a clear, data-driven picture of the sector’s needs and to identify practical solutions that can be scaled and shared.

Adam Knight, Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand Theatre, said:
“Theatres like ours are vital parts of their communities, yet too often they are overlooked in national conversations. The Local Theatre Touring Alliance is about bringing people together to protect and strengthen local theatre for future generations. Listening to venue managers, who know these challenges first-hand, is a crucial starting point.”

Katie Town, Executive Director of Theatre Royal Wakefield, added:
“Mid-scale venues are facing unprecedented challenges, but there is also huge potential if we work collaboratively. The survey is a critical first step in gathering the honest insights we need to develop new touring models and advocacy strategies that genuinely work for our towns and smaller cities.”

Theatres in towns and smaller cities play a vital civic role, supporting local economies, enriching cultural life, and providing spaces for diverse communities to come together. Without action, closures and declining access to live performance risk damaging not just the creative sector, but the social and economic fabric of towns across the UK.

LTTA is committed to working collaboratively with existing networks, building on successful initiatives, and adapting proven solutions rather than reinventing the wheel. It is not a membership body, but a shared effort built on trust, transparency, collaboration, and respect.

There is no cost to sign-up to the Alliance. All venues, producers, policymakers, funders, and sector organisations that share the LTTA’s values are welcome to register as supporters.

Venue managers from all towns and smaller cities are encouraged to participate in the survey. Find out more and take part at https://localtheatretouringalliance.com/

Registered Supporters of the LTTA at launch include:

Sector Support Organisations

• ABTT
• Creative Tunbridge Wells
• Data Culture Change
• Independent Theatre Council
• Royal Holloway, University of London
• Stagely
• Theatres Trust
• Tixly (website sponsor)

Venues

• Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
• BEAM, Hertford
• Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
• Bretforton Grange
• Cast, Doncaster
• Darlington Hippodrome
• Landmark Theatres
• New Theatre Royal Portsmouth
• Royal & Derngate, Northampton
• Trinity Theatre Tunbridge Wells
• Theatre Royal Wakefield
• The Grand Blackpool
• Theatre Royal Winchester
• Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Touring Companies/Producers

• Northern Ballet
• Shared Experience
• Wild Park Entertainment