Our Mission

To use our unique resources to make unforgettable theatre experiences that give pleasure, move, inspire, stimulate, challenge and enrich the lives of individuals in our communities, helping to release their creative potential.

The Octagon Theatre was officially opened on 27 November 1967 by HRH Princess Margaret.  The first production was Annie And Fanny by Bolton playwright Bill Naughton.  The building was constructed for the princely sum of £95,000 using money raised by public donation.  The Octagon was the first professional theatre to be built in the North West of England following World War Two.

The Octagon Theatre is currently one of Bolton’s most successful and popular cultural attractions and currently welcomes over 150,000 people a year to performances and its services. The Octagon’s unique selling point is the intimate and flexible Main Auditorium theatre space. In the space of one season, audiences can see performances in thrust, end-on or in-the-round. In 1987, the Octagon building was extended to include a studio theatre, which in 1994 was re-named The Bill Naughton Studio Theatre after Bolton’s most famous playwright.  

On top of this, the Octagon’s community, participatory and education department, Octagon activ8, are recognised as a benchmark for community work both regionally and nationally.

The Octagon believes in world class theatre: made in Bolton. Most of this production work is delivered on-site and to facilitate this the theatre also has a large workshop where sets are constructed, a small sound engineering studio, a wardrobe department where all costumes are cut, fitted and sewn, and a prop store where furniture and smaller items are stored. The Octagon’s rehearsal space, The Lab, is where actors work under direction for about four weeks before transferring to our Main Auditorium, when the production is ready for its opening performance.

In addition, the Octagon’s programme of BoltON events is designed to enrich the theatre-going experience with a programme of events supplementing the main season of work. Some of the leading lights in theatre have appeared as part of BoltON, including the playwright David Hare, actor Corin Redgrave, director Max Stafford-Clark and Arthur Miller biographer Christopher Bigsby.