In late 1979 Bedford School opened its first theatre based in the centre of the grounds (the old gymnasium!) of the school and from this time hosted many internal productions like any school might. It wasn’t until 2000 when the theatre received a renovation of its auditorium that it started to extend its programme receiving professional touring productions from all over the UK. From 2003 – 2015 the school’s theatre (re-branded to Bedford Theatre) hosted just under 120 shows including Stones In His Pockets, The Reduced Shakespeare Company plus many more Fringe sell-out performances. When the school acquired St Luke’s in 2008… some exciting changes to Bedford School’s Theatre & Drama provision were to arrive!

Located on St. Peter’s Street, in the heart of Bedford, we are the exciting new performing arts facility for Bedford School and the town. St. Luke’s Church has been sympathetically adapted into a venue that houses a 286-seat theatre, a 60-seat studio-theatre, a spacious bar opening onto the original church garden and a foyer that will display pupils’ art as well as art produced by members of the local community. Although primarily a school theatre, our aim is to involve the wider community as much as possible.