Curve Cafe And Bar

The Curve Theatre impresses from the outside....until you get right up close to it. I can think of no other modern theatre I have visited where the entrance and exit are so unlovely and uninviting. The street dining area - for the brave souls who wish to have a coffee outside whilst fending off beggars - is tiny and in shadow, which surely defeats the purpose. By contrast, the inside bar, cafe, and waiting areas are well thought through. There is a wonderful sense of space that is almost cathedral-like in its impact. There is, however, insufficient seating for the numbers seeking it. Given the age(ing) profile of most theatre going audiences in the UK, this is no small matter. The staff here were unfailingly polite and helpful (which feels like a bonus in these 'post service' times). The toilets, when I used them, were clean and well maintained (which is a definite bonus). The main auditorium itself is an impressive modern theatre going space with comfortable seats and plenty of leg room (everything that Frank Matcham theatres aren't). I was here to see "The Book Thief," a brave, powerfully emotive, but relentlessly downbeat, new musical. The staging was drab and spare. The lighting, harsh and sepia. But what unfolded was engaging and enriching. The setting of this musical was historical, but it felt current. Words are still being stolen from us and used against others in ways that should always shock and repel.

Amazing theatre, was fortunate enough to perform here with 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' recently. We had a lovely time watching 'La Bamba' as well, would highly recommend

Visited for Spongebob the Musical, which was a bonkers, fantastic experience. We ate in the cafe before the show, which was really convenient. The food wasn't fantastic, but we had envisioned eating at McDonald's beforehand, and it was a step up from that. Prices were a bit higher than a pub, so not ridiculous. The Theatre building itself was odd compared to all I have visited. The Auditorium being in the middle, with access all the way around it meant that the regular back stage areas were across the corridor from the stage itself. Seeing the actors running back to their dressing rooms was a novelty, but I do wonder how they find it. It was all concrete and brick in the main area, and didn't feel especially welcoming, although the lighting in some areas like the cafe changed that. The staff were lovely. Seats were pretty uncomfortable after half an hour though.

Great production (Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliette). Good seats. Easy parking (pay for your parking in the box office to avoid queues at the pay station at the end). Awesome seeing backstage after the performance when they raise the sides of the theatre.

A nice modern theatre, plenty of places to eat. East directions inside. The seats became a little uncomfortable but bearable. We saw RIDE and was an excellent show.