Hire Our Spaces at Barbican Theatre & The Quad Theatre

Whether you're planning a performance, rehearsal, conference, talk, or team away day, our versatile spaces at Barbican Theatre and The Quad Theatre are designed to meet your needs. With high-quality facilities, experienced technical support, and flexible seating options, we’re proud to welcome artists, companies, creatives, businesses, and community groups into our spaces.

Spaces for Hire:

Barbican Auditorium (capacity up to 144)

Quad Theatre (capacity up to 398)

Barbican Theatre Studio (flexible use - up to 40 theatre style, 15-20 workshops)

Barbican Music Studio (for music production/recording and library of instruments)

The Bar (capacity up to 90- flexible use space)

  • Located near the waterfront in Plymouth’s historic Barbican, this vibrant and intimate theatre offers raked seating for up to 144 people and is ideal for performances, talks, screenings, and conferences.

    Facilities include:

    • Built-in HD projector and screen

    • Full lighting rig and sound system (available for hire)

    • Professional in-house technician

    • Backstage access and easy load-in via side doors

    • Suitable for live performances, filming, rehearsals, workshops, and events

    Capacity:

    • Up to 110 (raked seating)

    • Up to 144 (with additional ‘pit’ seats)

    Creative workshops: up to 30 participants

  • Barbican Studio

    Bright, open and adaptable – perfect for small group rehearsals, meetings, workshops or training sessions. It can also be booked as a breakout or additional space alongside the auditorium.

    Features:

    • Natural light from large windows

    • Mirrored wall

    • Built-in PA system

    • TV screen available for presentations or video use

    Capacity and Configuration Examples:

    • Up to 40 (theatre style)

    • Up to 15 (workshop setup with tables and chairs)

    Size: 8 x 5m

  • A sound-isolated, well-equipped space for solo practice, rehearsals, vocal work, or audio recording.

  • An intimate performance venue ideal for spoken word, comedy, acoustic music and more - or a charming setting for meetings and private hire.

    Features

    • PA system

    • Ambient lighting options

    Capacity

    • Up to 60 seated

    • Up to 90 standing

  • Located on campus at Marjon University, The Quad Theatre is a professional, high-capacity venue ideal for large-scale performances, conferences, rehearsals and public events.

    This purpose-built theatre offers 240 raked seats, expandable to up to 398 with additional seating or standing room.

    Facilities include:

    • Built-in projector and screen

    • Full sound and lighting rig

    • Excellent sightlines and accessibility

    • In-house technician available for support

    Capacity: 240-398 seated (other configurations available such as standing and seated - information available by request)

    Arts Bar at The Quad Theatre

    Our lively on-site bar, for event refreshments. Whether you're hosting a public performance or private function, the bar provides a unique, welcoming atmosphere with a fully licensed bar and seating area.

    Perfect for:

    • Pre-show and interval drinks

    • Receptions, networking, or social events

    Located in the entrance foyer, the Arts Bar at The Quad Theatre is a relaxed, contemporary space ideal for welcoming guests or hosting informal gatherings.

    Includes:

    • Licensed bar with barista coffee options

    • Suitable for intervals or catering add-ons

    • Can be hired in combination with theatre or studio spaces

Equipment & Extras

Available on request. Additional costs may apply.

  • TV screen (mobile stand)

  • Projectors (included in Barbican Auditorium, Quad Theatre)

  • Trestle tables

  • Lectern 

  • Ambient lighting (rigged and free-standing options available)

Other Services

Box Office

If your event is ticketed, we can sell tickets on your behalf via Eventbrite (platform charges will be added to your ticket price, unless it is a free event).

Marketing

We’re happy to support your event promotion by:

  • Re-sharing social media content

  • Mentioning your event in newsletters or posts

If you need more tailored marketing assistance, we’ll work with you to find the right approach (subject to team capacity and possible additional cost).

Looking for Artist Development support which may include use of spaces for developing your creative practice? Find out more here

Contact Us

Hire space at Barbican Theatre Plymouth

Our Approach to Pricing

As a charity, we do our best to keep our hire prices as affordable as possible, while also covering the real costs of running our venues. Income from hires plays an important role in helping us stay open, support our creative programmes, and keep our spaces available to the wider community.

We don’t publish standard rates because costs can vary depending on the type, length and setup of your event. We’ll always try to be flexible and work with your budget where we can — but we hope you’ll understand that we’re not able to offer our spaces for free, as much as we’d love to.

If you're unsure or just want to chat through your options, we’re always happy to talk.