If you work in UK theatre – or you care about where it’s heading – then the 2025 Theatre Conference is an event worth knowing about. Hosted by UK Theatre and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), it’s happening on Tuesday 24 June at the Southbank Centre in London. Expect a packed day of keynotes, industry panels, networking, and some proper big-picture thinking.

This isn’t just a talking shop. It’s where people from all corners of the industry come together to figure out what the future of theatre looks like – and how we’re going to get there.

So, What’s the Aim of the Conference?

The whole idea is to get everyone pulling in the same direction. Whether you’re running a regional venue, producing new work, working in audience development or just trying to keep the lights on backstage, there’s something here for you.

This year’s key themes include:

• Overcoming barriers to new work
  
• Collaborating to close technical skills gaps
  
• Learning lessons from the use of AI in other industries
  
• Identifying and reaching young audiences
  
• Using data to grow revenue through smart insights
  

These topics will be covered during breakout sessions throughout the day where you can get into the detail on key issues. And between sessions, there’s a Marketplace showcasing theatre tech, services, and new ideas.

Who’s Speaking?

One of the big draws this year is the keynote speaker: Jack Thorne – the Olivier Award-winning writer behind the Netflix hit Adolescence, The Virtues and His Dark Materials, and many more. He’ll be speaking in the morning, and there’s a Q&A session afterwards with SOLT President Kash Bennett.

It all wraps up with a networking drinks reception in the evening – hopefully a lively end to a useful day.

Come and Find Us

We’ll be in the Marketplace at Stand H, so if you’re attending do please come and say “hello”. We’d love to chat with you about the latest in theatrical accounting news!

A Quick Look Back

This isn’t the first time the theatre world’s gathered like this. Last year’s conference – also held at the Southbank Centre – brought in over 600 delegates. The big topics in 2024 were government funding (and the ongoing fight for it), the future of theatre buildings, and the campaign to make sure every child gets to experience live theatre before they leave school.

There was also a new focus on networking, with “speed-dating” style introductions, member lounges, and one-to-one “surgeries” with industry reps.

And back in 2022, the conference returned post-pandemic with a more fragmented but focused approach. Instead of one big event, they ran themed summits on resilience, touring, revenue, and learning – each tackling different parts of the sector’s recovery.

Why It Matters

This conference is more than just a date in the diary. It helps shape the direction of UK theatre – creatively, politically and financially. It’s where policies are influenced, industry campaigns are sparked, and partnerships are formed.

It’s also one of the few chances theatre professionals get to step back, take stock, and think strategically about the future – whether that’s how to keep talented technicians in the industry, or how to build a business case for sustainability.

Theatre’s facing some big challenges – skills shortages, tightening budgets, and the ever-shifting expectations of modern audiences. But events like the 2025 Theatre Conference show that there’s still a huge appetite to tackle these challenges together.

So whether you’re behind the scenes or front of house, producing, programming, or performing – this is your chance to be part of the conversation that helps shape the next chapter of UK theatre.