Conference Review: Future of Theatre 2026
On a windy April morning, hundreds of theatre industry workers lined up outside of the Soho Theatre Walthamstow for a one day conference hosted by The Stage - Future of Theatre. I am amongst them, representing Ammonite.
“Future of Theatre is an award-winning conference for the entire theatre sector. The conference brings theatre professionals from across the world together and provides a platform to have vital conversations, reflect, share ideas and challenge the way things have previously been done in order to build a stronger theatre sector.”
The theme of this year's conference was audiences - How do we bring them back? How do we get younger generations into the theatre for the first time?
What work is currently being done was displayed, and suggestions for what we could be doing better were explored. Attendees were given the opportunity to vote on the best ‘Big Idea’ on the theme from selected speakers throughout the day.
Future of Theatre review
This conference is very established, but as a first time attendee to the event and the venue, I wanted to reflect on my experience and how relevant the day was for a person working in the technical and design aspect of productions.
My highlights:
- Inclusivity in the panel - it was fantastic to see a diverse panel speaking on the theatre industry, as theatre is for everyone, and should be made by everyone.
- Opening skit - ‘Lucy the sl*t’ from Avenue Q came on during the opening skit which added a fun and theatrical element to a long, talk-heavy day. It engaged the audience instantly and made me excited for what was to come - such a great touch!
- Inspiring content - My favourite talk of the day was the Keynote by the Royal Shakespeare Company executive team. They noted that when we share collective experiences, our heartbeats in the audience begin to sync to the same beat. I can’t think of anything that would make me want to go to the theatre more, which is such an impressive outcome given the theme of the day. Very powerful.
- Balanced programme - Between longer panel discussions, the ‘Big Idea’ pitches were snappier and engaging.
The day felt like a solid representation of theatre industry people, from am-dram freelancers to flashy West End moguls. The opportunity for networking with the panels and industry were fantastic.
Throughout the building, theatre companies, charities and unions lined the walkways offering out information and merch for those interested. The way this was managed was perfect, each table felt very approachable but not overbearing or forceful. Next year it would be amazing to see more tables offering out a wider range of offerings to those in the industry.
Did I feel the event is relevant for technical workers?
Hands down - yes! In the panel discussion of making audiences part of the show - immersive theatre - there were some fantastic insights into the perspectives of those involved in the show and what they need from producers, production managers and audiences too.
It highlighted to me how important safety is for actors and staff working in immersive theatre - a type of theatre where technical elements make up a huge part of the experience.
In a later discussion, it was noted that noise levels walking room to room in an immersive venue can take you out of the world you’re in, and cause discomfort. The world needs continuity in every element throughout a space.
Audio captioning was explored - it became clear how crucial this technology is for hearing impaired audiences and that small changes can make or break their experience.
Overall, my takeaways from this conference were invaluable. I learnt a lot about how Ammonite could be considering a wider pool of audience needs in their technical direction, design and production management. I discovered artists, activists and producers at the top of their field, who we could potentially collaborate with on what was learnt to bring back wider and more diverse audiences.
This audience member will certainly be back next year.
Written by Grace McCaffrey