Cheltenham's principal theatre, opened in 1891 as the New Theatre and Opera House. The Victorian interior survives largely intact — gilded boxes, a deep horseshoe balcony, and ornate plasterwork — making it one of the prettiest working theatres in England. A major restoration in 2016 preserved all of this while upgrading the backstage facilities.
The programme covers drama, comedy, opera, dance, and touring musicals, with a strong tradition of staging quality work rather than filling seats with whatever is commercially safe. The Christmas pantomime is a local institution. There is a Studio space for smaller productions. Worth checking what's on before you arrive, since an evening here is one of the better things Cheltenham offers.