Our aim is to be able to offer our superb venue to the wider Cambridge community. We particularly welcome non-profit and charitable organisations for young people.
Great Hall is available to hire during our main school holiday periods and half terms (see Term Dates). Occasionally, we can also offer selected term-time weekends for hire, depending on the proposed event, so please enquire with your preferred dates.
Lettings are usually taken in weekly blocks (Tuesday/Wednesday – Saturday), but we can consider longer or shorter periods to suit your production. One-night events are also welcome, although priority will be given to longer bookings and regular clients (which may mean that unfortunately we are initially unable to accept your booking). We generally start weekly bookings on a Tuesday or Wednesday, as that gives us time for staff breaks and to prepare the venue.
We are currently taking bookings until August 2027 (we don’t yet have term dates beyond this). Please enquire to discuss your proposed dates.
We have the following specific dates/periods still available (other dates may also be available):
* These dates will be reserved for existing clients on a first refusal basis.
These rates are for performance hires of the main theatre, including front-of-house areas, dressing rooms and stage/technical facilities as listed in the Technical Specification. Use of ancillary spaces such as the Middleton Studio, Dance Studio or the John Harding Drama Centre may incur additional costs, although are usually included as additional dressing room spaces.
We offer Great Hall as a ‘dry-hire’ venue – which means you are hiring only the space and facilities. You will need to provide your own stage/technical crew and front-of-house staff/ushers, as well as organising your own production, publicity and ticket sales.
We have partnered with a local bar company to provide a theatre bar for your performance (subject to suitability and minimum audience numbers).
Use of our Box Office is optionally available.
A duty technician is provided to oversee the building and assist with our technical systems (see below for details of Technical Support).
Our duty technician will be on hand throughout your hire to assist with our technical systems and to provide advice and support to your crew.
For concerts and other small events, we are happy to provide basic PA and stage lighting. Additional charges may apply for any changes to our ‘Standard Rig’ and/or to operate the lighting/sound during the performance.
Please note that technician hours may be incurred before/after the event to prepare the venue if extensive changes are required to our standard arrangements. Payment for such hours will be agreed in advance, except where unauthorised changes have been made, or if our general conditions are not followed.
When necessary, technician hours are charged at £41.25+VAT per hour (basic) or £82.50+VAT per hour (performance).
Our C. Bechstein D280 grand piano can be hired for music events in Great Hall. The piano must be professionally tuned before and after use. Please enquire for rates.
The Middleton Studio can be hired for smaller performances or rehearsals. Availability is restricted by main-house events, so please enquire to discuss possible options.
Great Hall at The Leys is one of the largest conference facilities in the centre of Cambridge, suitable for a wide range of events including conferences, seminars, and exhibitions. Great Hall is situated at the heart of The Leys 50-acre city campus, within one of England's premier independent schools.
More informationThe Music School houses the Winton Thomas Recital Hall, with supporting classrooms and practice rooms.
More informationThe Leys Sports Centre has a range of indoor and outdoor facilities including sports hall, gym, swimming pool, tennis courts and climbing wall. We also offer various holiday activities, swimming lessons, tennis lessons, kickboxing lessons and lifesaving courses.
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