The Dukes was founded in 1971 as the only producing theatre in Lancashire. In 2019 The Dukes entered a period of transition into a more focused and streamlined organisation committed to bringing high quality live performance and cinema, creative engagement and audience experience to Lancashire.

The Dukes has two core performance spaces, The Rake and The Round. The Rake is a traditional end on theatre and cinema space seating 313 whilst The Round is a unique purpose built in the round theatre space with 234 seats. Both spaces are used for both live performance and cinema. Additionally the Dukes has developed the old creative learning building into MoorSpace, a venue focused on creative engagement and hosting small-scale contemporary theatre focused on emerging and solo artists.

As part of the Dukes transformation the theatre is moving from a traditional producing theatre model to a new hybrid model of presentation. The Dukes will continue to produce a ‘Homegrown’ Christmas performance and Park show and work in co production/in association to create work, this reduced producing model will be surrounded by a new more expansive programme of received work from companies and artists hosting high quality performance and diverse storytelling.

The Dukes will also take a new approach to talent development. Working with both local artists to support creative work made in and for Lancaster as well as identifying artists to work with as Creative Collaborators. These Creative Collaborators will be artists that the Dukes will work with over a period of time to develop new work and to support the development of local artists. The Dukes will also identify resident artists who will be part of the Dukes with office space, presentation of work and joint partnerships.

Our engagement work is presented in six strands, early years, young people, older people, hard to reach, talent development and schools. We offer distinct and inclusive participatory opportunities for all ages within the community for all ages within the community as well as other partner charities and organisations. Recognising that there are barriers preventing all ages form engaging with the arts we aspire to ensure our programme is accessible to all.



Staff are organised by departments: Programming, Marketing & Communications, Creative Learning, Technical, Front of House and Finance. The Dukes currently employs 14 full-time, 11 part-time and 15 casual staff and has over 60 volunteers who donate their time and services.

The Dukes Playhouse Trust, which is a registered charity, manages the Dukes and company limited by guarantee and is core funded by Arts Council of England and Lancaster City Council. This accounts for approximately 30% of turnover (2019-20). Earned income is generated through box office, room hire and fees and projects are supported by grants and expansive programme of individual giving and corporate sponsorship.