The Dukes (Lancaster)
 The Dukes in 2007 | |
  The Dukes Location in Lancaster city centre | |
| Former names | Duke's Playhouse |
|---|---|
| Location | Lancaster, Lancashire, England |
| Coordinates | 54°02′57″N 2°47′47″W / 54.0491°N 2.7964°WCoordinates: 54°02′57″N 2°47′47″W / 54.0491°N 2.7964°W |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity |
313 (The Rake) 240 (The Round) 112 (DT3) |
| Opened | 18 November 1971 (as a theatre) |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Dukes Theatre |
| Designated | 22 December 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1211613 |
The Dukes in Lancaster, Lancashire, England, formerly known as the Duke's Playhouse, is a professional producing theatre, currently producing six theatre productions a year. It also hosts outside companies and arts festivals. It has three auditoria, the largest (named "The Rake") seating approximately 313, a studio theatre "The Round" seating approximately 240 and a youth specific space, "DT3". The largest auditorium is also used for screening films, and the theatre has a reputation for independent cinema. Since 1986 the Duke's has also produced annual open-air, walkabout theatre productions at Williamson Park in the city every summer, thought to be the largest outdoor theatre event of its kind in the UK.
The theatre is housed in a converted church (formerly St Anne's Church), opening as a theatre in 1971.