When we opened our doors in 1936, our founder John Maynard Keynes believed that a trailblazing city deserved its own groundbreaking theatre.
We stay true to his vision today. Because many generations of amazing performers, writers and producers have found their calling here. And we want to give courage, confidence and opportunity to the next.
As we closed temporarily in early 2025 for our first major refurbishment for decades, we realised that this was the time to ask – and answer – many questions about what the Arts Theatre stands for now, and where it should go next.
Most of 2025 has been taken up with a full-scale revamp of our main auditorium, with better seats, better sightlines and an altogether better theatre environment.
And in parallel, we’ve been thinking hard about our brand. Not just the logos and colours we use, but what we say to the world, how we say it, and how we can support wider and more adventurous programming by building a second studio theatre, high in our rooftops.
To have that bolder, stronger voice – and attract donations – we’ve had to make some decisions. We’ve replaced our old, pentagon-shaped logo (originally chosen to symbolise theatre, music, opera, ballet and film) with a simple, bold wordmark, inspired by theatre playbills. The new approach foregrounds our name and will quickly help to re-establish The Arts Theatre as a theatrical force in the region, and across the country.
We’re applying this out across a new design style and a completely revamped website. We’ve adopted colours that intentionally link to those of Cambridge University. And we’ve decided to go back to our original name – The Arts Theatre Cambridge.
To mark our reopening and help us fundraise, we’ve enlisted the help of some of our greatest supporters. Our stage has been vital in the careers of Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson, Tom Hiddleston, Trevor Nunn, Olivia Colman amongst countless others, so several of them star in a short film we’ve made, along with a certain Dame Judi Dench.
Thousands have laughed, cried and discovered a lifelong love of theatre here, and we want to ensure we can share that gift with thousands more.
We aim to repay it – with intrigue, with inspiration, and with interest. Because the world needs Cambridge – and Cambridge needs The Arts.
