The Lantern Theatre
The Lantern
Liverpool’s Newest Fringe Theatre
The Lantern Theatre opened it’s doors to the public on Saturday 28th November 2009. Founded by members of the local theatre company, tiny Giants Productions, who have established a 10 year history touring educational theatre across the UK, the Lantern Theatre is a long awaited Liverpool fringe venue tucked away on Blundell Street just behind Liverpool One. Resident Theatre Companies Tiny Giants and The Lantern Theatre Company will be performing original theatre and classic productions throughout the year. See our events guide!
Our History & Achievements
tiny Giants Productions Limited formed in 1999 as a not for profit arts organisation, originally there were seven directors, all of which were talented play writes, musicians, composers, teachers and poets, we shared a passion for the performing arts and our aim was to write and produce original musical theatre productions and create plays for children. We fell in to Theatre in Education almost straight away and most of our time was taken up setting up and managing the theatre in education programme which now tours all over the UK performing to over 1200 schools per year, continouusly writing and producing bespoke Theatre in Education productions for councils, schools and PCT’s across the UK. Visit Tiny Giants Website
The Lantern Theatre - Our Vision
Since the company formed back in 1999, we have always shared a vision of operating a small fringe theatre and producing new theatre for the general public to enjoy as well as creating regular employment for local artists. Our vision is for the Lantern to become a hub for local artists and to fill the gap on Merseyside to help small groups to be able to perform their work on a proffesional stage as we are aware it is very difficult these days to perform in mainstream theatres. The Lantern will be home to our own resident Theatre Company TINY GIANTS & THE LANTERN THEATRE COMPANY. Both producing original plays and adaptations of classic texts that will be performed by small casts for delighted children and adults with the aim of creating a self sufficient theatre programme.
How the Lantern has came about
Tiny Giants moved to Blundell Street in March 2009 to boost the smooth running of the company by having a rehearsal space, office and storage in the one space. As the months went by and our creative ideas began to flow, we gradually began to realise that our premises would fantastic as a small fringe theatre. Our strong links in local schools in Knowsley and Liverpool meant that we were stumbling upon a lot of theatre equipment that was going to be thrown away as each of the schools moved to their new academy homes. So all of the staging rostra, lights, curtains, chairs and fixtures and fittings were given to us for a minimal donation fee. This meant we could further investigate the possibility of transforming our space into a small theatre. Between the months of June - November we applied for a license and began the task of transforming the space. Much to our surprise and delight we now have a beautiful fully licensed and extremely intimate fringe venue which has been put together by our small team for all the small theatre companies out there to enjoy performing in. Tiny Giants contributed in the region of £19000 of the T.I.E fund into transforming the space and getting the website designed and up and running. The Lantern Theatre and Tiny Giants have never recieved funding from the arts council or any other funding body, we remain as a not for profit company dedicated to developing the arts and arts in education as well as devloping theatre and the arts as a viable business that is not reliant on funding.
Want to perform your piece at The Lantern? Call us 0151 703 0000 Or Download the prices & Information sheet below.