The Crescent Theatre hires out its auditoriums, bar and meeting rooms for conferences, AGMs, presentations, training sessions, examinations, rehearsals and screenings, for groups from a handful of people up to 340. The building stands on Sheepcote Street at Brindleyplace, Birmingham, beside the canal, and is run by a registered charity that also stages its own season of plays.
Seminars and company events
The Main House is the largest room, with a maximum capacity of 340 in a raked auditorium facing a proscenium stage. It suits keynote talks, AGMs, product presentations and award evenings. For mid-sized conferences, panel debates or breakout sessions, the Ron Barber Studio holds up to 120 on flexible raked seating that can be set in many formats. Day meetings, training and exams use the Cumberland Room, and catering can be added there on request. The theatre also lists the Baskerville Room and Roma's Room among its bookable rooms. Furniture and equipment are hired separately, and the hire team prepares a tailored quotation for each booking. The venue also takes cinema and film hire.
Rooms and capacities
The Main House has a raked auditorium, a fly gallery, a trap door and a forestage on an adjustable lift that can drop to form an orchestra pit or add a row of seats. The Ron Barber Studio is a two-story black box with a wrap-around gallery that opens extra options for staging and lighting. The Lowrie Bar overlooks the canal and holds 70 in cabaret style, seated or standing. It can be hired only when no other event is running, since it serves all audiences during shows. The Underground, a 40-seat black box with end-on or thrust layouts, is mostly available on Saturday evenings. Roma's Room is a rehearsal space with a mirrored wall, drapes, a keyboard and a PA for recorded music. Capacities for the Cumberland, Baskerville and Roma's rooms are given in the hire guides rather than on the web pages, so ask the hire team.
Catering
Food and drink for events come through a partnership with Togather, a platform that links venues with local and independent street food, catering and bar suppliers. Organizers choose the supplier that fits the event through that partnership. Catering in the Cumberland Room is arranged on request.
History and setting
The Crescent is a Birmingham theatre company and a registered charity, number 245054. Its program of plays runs alongside the hires, and the theatre also manages hire of the Old Rep Theatre, its sister venue, which is reached by stairs only. The Sheepcote Street building sits at Brindleyplace, with the canal below its windows and the National Sea Life Centre close by.
Getting there
The Brindleyplace tram stop is about four minutes on foot. Five Ways rail station is around 15 minutes' walk, and Birmingham New Street and Snow Hill are each about 20 minutes. Bus 126 stops outside at the Crescent Theatre stop. Q-Park Brindleyplace, next to the theatre, is open around the clock and has electric vehicle charging. Bike racks stand by the main entrance, and the canal towpath has steps up to the building, with step-free access by the lift between the Sea Life Centre and Brindleyplace. Birmingham Airport is the nearest airport.
