The Roses Theatre: Introduction
When Play It Green member IDEMIA selected The Roses Theatre as its chosen good cause for 2026, it created a new connection between one of our members and a charity firmly rooted in its local community. Through IDEMIA’s nature repair activity, hundreds of pounds have already been generated for The Roses, as 10% of all relevant revenue is directed to its chosen good cause.
That introduction gave us the opportunity to learn more about what The Roses Theatre does, who it supports and the role a theatre can play far beyond putting on shows.
A Theatre Made for Tewkesbury
The Roses Theatre is a registered charity and Tewkesbury’s home of live entertainment, film, creativity and community activity. Sitting where Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire meet, it welcomes around 80,000 visitors each year, with people travelling from across the surrounding region to enjoy comedy, music, drama, dance, cinema and family entertainment.
Its programme has included names such as Bill Bailey, Jack Dee, Russell Kane and Chris McCausland, while much of what makes The Roses distinctive comes from the work it creates itself. Its ambition is to put culture at the heart of Tewkesbury, creating work locally and giving people more reasons to feel connected to the place they live.
Made in Tewkesbury
The annual pantomime is one of the clearest examples. Rather than buying in a touring production, The Roses writes and produces its own show, creating a local Christmas tradition that has become one of its most popular events. Recent productions have involved writer Toby Hulse and Olivier Award-winning director Derek Bond.
That approach extends beyond the theatre building. The Roses has created an outdoor family theatre festival in Victoria Gardens, worked with Tewkesbury Abbey on Classics in the Abbey, revived the town’s much-loved Medieval Festival parade and developed Future’s Now, a free film and gaming festival for children and young people.
These activities make The Roses part of the everyday cultural life of Tewkesbury, with creativity reaching into the town rather than remaining within the theatre walls.
Creating Opportunities for People
A significant part of The Roses Theatre’s charitable work focuses on participation, confidence and access to creativity. Its Roses Young Creatives programme works with more than 100 young people from early childhood through to 18+, giving them opportunities to perform, develop skills, build friendships and work alongside theatre professionals.
It also provides inclusive creative opportunities for young people with SEND and neurodivergent young people, alongside accessible performances including BSL-interpreted and ‘panto’ sensory-friendly shows. The Roses brings people together through our own creative and community groups, from choir and knitting to Sing for Wellbeing, helping people connect, express themselves and feel part of something, including those living with dementia or at risk of isolation.
For some children, a visit to The Roses pantomime is their first experience of live theatre. For others, taking part in a production or creative programme can become a route to greater confidence, stronger communication and a real sense of belonging.
Supporting Tewkesbury
The theatre also has a wider economic role, with The Roses estimating that it contributes around £2.26 million to the local economy each year. Visitors support nearby restaurants, pubs, hotels and shops as part of their trip, extending the benefit of a busy cultural programme into other local businesses.
That combination of cultural activity, community participation and local spending helps explain why The Roses sees its own future as closely connected to the future of Tewkesbury.
The Play It Green Connection
The Roses Theatre was added to the Play It Green platform as a nominated good cause after being selected by IDEMIA and is now available for other Play It Green members to choose.
IDEMIA’s nature repair activity shows how one action can create different forms of positive impact, supporting verified environmental projects while also generating funding for a charity creating opportunities, bringing people together and investing in the cultural life of its community.
To discover what is happening at The Roses, support its charitable work or plan a visit, visit The Roses Theatre website.