Privacy Statement

Last updated: [September 2026]

1. About this privacy notice

Barbican Theatre respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you:

  • visit our website;

  • book tickets or attend events;

  • take part in classes, workshops or other activities;

  • sign up to our mailing list;

  • make an enquiry or contact us;

  • support or donate to us;

  • work with us as an artist, freelancer, volunteer, partner or supplier; or

  • otherwise interact with Barbican Theatre.

We aim to be open and clear about how we use your information and only collect information that we genuinely need.

For data protection purposes, Barbican Theatre is normally the Data Controller, which means we are responsible for deciding how and why your personal information is used.


Email: info@barbicantheatre.co.uk

Questions about this Privacy Notice or how we use your personal information can be directed to our Data Protection Lead using the contact details above.

2. The information we collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with us.

It may include:

Contact information

Such as:

  • name;

  • email address;

  • telephone number;

  • postal address.

Booking and transaction information

Such as:

  • tickets or events booked;

  • payment and transaction information;

  • booking history;

  • access requirements;

  • communications relating to your booking.

Payment card details may be processed directly by our payment or ticketing providers rather than being stored by Barbican Theatre.

Participation information

If you take part in classes, workshops, community programmes or other activities, we may collect information such as:

  • participant name;

  • age or date of birth where required;

  • parent or guardian details;

  • emergency contact details;

  • access or support requirements;

  • attendance;

  • consent information.

Where necessary to keep people safe and support participation, this may include health, disability or other sensitive information.

Marketing information

If you choose to hear from us, we may collect:

  • your name;

  • email address;

  • communication preferences;

  • information about how you engage with our communications where our systems provide this.

Website information

When you use our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

  • IP address;

  • browser and device information;

  • pages visited;

  • website usage information;

  • cookie preferences.

Further information is provided in the Cookies and Website Analytics section below.

Other information

We may also collect information when you:

  • complete a survey;

  • give us feedback;

  • make a complaint;

  • apply for a job or opportunity;

  • volunteer with us;

  • work with us professionally;

  • donate to or support our work.

We aim to collect only the information that is necessary for the purpose for which it is being used.

3. How we use your information

We may use personal information to:

  • process ticket bookings and payments;

  • administer classes, workshops and participation programmes;

  • communicate with participants, parents and guardians;

  • respond to enquiries;

  • provide information about events and activities;

  • manage access requirements and reasonable adjustments;

  • keep participants, audiences and staff safe;

  • manage memberships, donations or supporter relationships;

  • send marketing communications where permitted;

  • understand and improve our programmes and services;

  • evaluate the impact of our charitable work;

  • manage complaints and feedback;

  • recruit employees, freelancers and volunteers;

  • manage relationships with artists, partners and suppliers;

  • maintain the security and operation of our website and systems;

  • meet our legal, regulatory and charitable responsibilities.

We will not use your information for purposes that are incompatible with the reasons it was originally collected unless there is a lawful basis for doing so.

4. Our lawful bases

Data protection law requires us to have a lawful basis for using personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, we may rely on:

Contract – where we need your information to provide something you have requested, such as processing a booking or administering an agreement with you.

Legal obligation – where we need to process information to meet a legal or regulatory requirement.

Legitimate interests – where processing is reasonably necessary for the operation and development of Barbican Theatre and those interests do not override your rights and interests. This may include administration, improving our services, maintaining security and managing relationships with audiences and partners.

Consent – where you have actively agreed to a particular use of your information, for example certain marketing communications, photography or non-essential website technologies.

Vital interests – in limited circumstances where processing is necessary to protect someone's life.

Where we process special category information, such as information about health, disability, ethnicity or other particularly sensitive information, we will also ensure that an appropriate additional legal condition applies.

Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

5. Children and young people

Working with children and young people is an important part of Barbican Theatre's charitable work.

We take particular care when collecting and using children's personal information.

Depending on the activity, we may collect information from a young person directly or from their parent or guardian.

We will:

  • only collect information that we reasonably need;

  • explain how information will be used in an appropriate and accessible way;

  • obtain parental or guardian information or consent where appropriate;

  • keep information securely;

  • limit access to people who need it;

  • take particular care with photographs, filming and sensitive information.

Where information is required for safeguarding or the safe delivery of an activity, we may need to retain or share information where there is an appropriate lawful basis even where consent has not been given or has subsequently been withdrawn.

The ICO emphasises that children's information requires particular protection and that privacy information should be presented in ways children can understand where services are directed towards or likely to be accessed by them. 

6. Marketing communications

We would like to keep you informed about performances, events, opportunities and other Barbican Theatre activity.

Where required, we will ask for your consent before sending electronic marketing communications.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by:

  • using the unsubscribe link in our emails; or

  • contacting us at [insert email].

Stopping marketing communications will not prevent us from contacting you where necessary about an existing booking, activity or other relationship with us.

7. Who we share your information with

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information with trusted organisations that provide services to us or process information on our behalf, including:

  • ticketing and box office providers;

  • payment processors;

  • email and mailing-list platforms;

  • website and hosting providers;

  • IT and cloud service providers;

  • accountants and professional advisers;

  • evaluation or research providers;

  • delivery partners where necessary for a particular programme.

Where third parties process information on our behalf, we expect appropriate data protection and security arrangements to be in place.

We may also share information where:

  • required by law;

  • required by a regulator or statutory authority;

  • necessary for safeguarding;

  • necessary to prevent or investigate crime or fraud;

  • necessary to protect someone's vital interests.

Where we deliver activities in partnership with another organisation, we will make it clear where possible if information will be shared and who is responsible for it.

8. International transfers

Some of the technology and cloud services we use may process or store information outside the UK.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate legal safeguards are in place, such as:

  • UK adequacy regulations;

  • approved contractual safeguards; or

  • another lawful transfer mechanism.

Further information about relevant safeguards can be requested from us.

9. How long we keep your information

We do not keep personal information for longer than we reasonably need it.

Retention periods vary depending on:

  • why the information was collected;

  • legal and regulatory requirements;

  • safeguarding requirements;

  • contractual requirements;

  • financial and accounting requirements;

  • legitimate organisational needs.

Information is securely deleted, destroyed or anonymised when it is no longer required.

More detailed retention periods are set out in Barbican Theatre's internal Data Retention Schedule.

The ICO requires privacy information to explain either the relevant retention periods or the criteria used to determine them. 

10. How we protect your information

We take appropriate organisational and technical measures to protect personal information.

These may include:

  • access controls;

  • password protection;

  • multi-factor authentication;

  • secure cloud systems;

  • appropriate staff access permissions;

  • secure storage and disposal;

  • data protection awareness and training;

  • appropriate arrangements with organisations processing information on our behalf.

However, no online service or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

11. Cookies and website analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • make the website work;

  • remember choices or preferences;

  • maintain website security;

  • understand how people use the website;

  • help us improve the website and our digital services.

Some technologies are necessary for the website to function and may not require consent.

Where consent is required for non-essential cookies or similar technologies, they will not be used until you have made an appropriate choice.

You can manage your preferences through our website's cookie controls.

We recommend maintaining a separate Cookie Notice explaining the specific technologies used, their purpose, provider and duration.

The current ICO rules extend beyond conventional cookies to other storage and access technologies such as tracking pixels, scripts, tags, web storage and device fingerprinting. The ICO published updated final guidance on these technologies in April 2026. 

12. Links and third-party websites

Our website may contain links to websites operated by other organisations, including ticketing, partner and social media websites.

Those organisations are responsible for their own privacy practices.

We encourage you to read their privacy information when using their services.

13. Photography and filming

Photography, video and audio recording form part of our work as an arts organisation and may be used to:

  • document our activities;

  • evaluate projects;

  • promote our charitable work;

  • communicate with audiences and supporters;

  • create archival or artistic material.

Where required, we will seek appropriate consent or identify another lawful basis before using identifiable images or recordings.

We take particular care when photographing or filming children, young people and people who may be at greater risk.

Where an event is being photographed or filmed, we will aim to make this clear to attendees.

14. Your data protection rights

Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis we rely upon, you may have the right to:

  • ask us for a copy of personal information we hold about you;

  • ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;

  • ask us to delete your information;

  • ask us to restrict how your information is used;

  • object to certain uses of your information;

  • receive certain information in a portable format;

  • withdraw consent where we rely on consent.

Some rights do not apply in every circumstance.

You also have a specific right to object to the use of your personal information for direct marketing.

To exercise your rights, contact us at:

Email: info@barbicantheatre.co.uk

We may need to confirm your identity before responding to a request.

15. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we have used your personal information, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to investigate and respond.

You also have the right to complain to the UK's data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner's Office

You do not need to raise a complaint with us before contacting the ICO.

16. Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect:

  • changes to our activities;

  • changes to the services or technology we use;

  • changes in law or regulatory guidance;

  • improvements to our data protection practices.

The latest version will be published on our website with the date it was last updated.