Small but perfectly formed, the Cellar Theatre is a place of magic – mysterious and underground, down an alley, around to the left, and underneath the mighty DINA. It’s a fringe theatre, a nightspot, a place to find like-minded folk, to showcase new writing, music, artists and experiments of all kinds. Not-for-profit and all about collaboration, the Cellar emerged in spring 2018 from the ground beneath Sheffield’s streets to nurture talent and celebrate new work, the city and people who make things.
When you venture down the steps, you could be anywhere in this old beer cellar turned Narnia-like space: a speakeasy, a club, a secret theatre in prohibition land. Up close and personal, with only seats for 30, there’s a sense of being part of a movement, one of the ones in the know – of special moments and clandestine experiences occurring unbeknownst to those shopping or merrymaking above ground.
Most tickets are £5, some are free or pay-what-you-decide, and it’s easy to get involved – from volunteering at a show, to putting on your own performance, or testing the waters in between at one of their scratch nights – just drop them a line.
In short, the Cellar is all about transformations, where you could be listening to torch songs under the streets of Amsterdam, whilst still being very much at home. It’s a place for celebrating counterculture, championing underdogs and breaking the rules. First we take Manhattan, then we take Barker’s Pool.
- Words by
- Laura Hegarty
