Storyhouse is Chester’s multi award-winning £37 million cultural centre. The original parts of the building were constructed as an art deco Odeon cinema in 1936, and have now been restored, extended and renovated into a library, two state of the art theatres, a cinema, library, restaurant and two bars.

The larger theatre is an 800-seat proscenium arch stage. With state-of-the-art facilities, its auditorium spreads across three tiers: stalls, circle and gallery. This same theatre converts into a 500-seat thrust stage (with the audience wrapping around three sides of the stage). In this format, the auditorium spreads across two tiers with intimate seating putting the audience right in amongst the action.

On top of the building sits the Garret Theatre and Bar. This 150-seat black-box theatre is a flexible, fully-equipped performance, rehearsal or workshop space. The Garret is designed to be full of work local creative companies, individuals and organisations make. The Garret sits next to a stunning, glass-fronted bar with views across the city.

The 100-seat boutique cinema is designed to honour the original Odeon’s history as a cinema in 1936. With plush red velvet, and soft, sunken seating, it is a beautiful event space.

The library spreads right through the building, with family-friendly library activity happening across all Storyhouse’s spaces. Extensive book-stock covers the walls throughout the old Odeon and a new children’s area offers opportunities for wet-play, arts and crafts activity and storytelling. New study areas offer opportunities for studying, learning and research.

We love this building and want to hand it over to the community to programme and create work in whenever we can.
If you would like to use one of our spaces, head here.