What's On in Buckinghamshire

Sir John and Dame Cleo began the realisation of that vision with the development of The Stables Theatre, in some outbuildings at their home, as a venue for concerts and education activities. In October 2000, the new Stables Theatre opened its doors, with a second phase of development opening in 2007. It is now home to The Jim Marshall Auditorium with 448 capacity (398 seated and 50 standing) and Stage 2 (80 seated and 20 standing or 100 standing) and presents around 350 concerts and 250 education sessions each year. The intimate auditorium has proved to be a favourite venue for many of the world's finest musicians from the world of pop, rock, jazz, classical and roots music with recent concert highlights including Joan Armatrading, Courtney Pine, Bill Wyman, Dave Brubeck, Nigel Kennedy, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Paul Carrack, Nils Lofgren, Eric Bibb, Steve Hackett, Antonio Forcione, Evelyn Glennie, Walter Trout, Thea Gilmore, Suzanne Vega, Cerys Matthews, Kate Rusby, Nerina Pallot and Nuru Kane to name but a few.  Its diverse programme continues to attract musicians respected as leading exponents of their genre whilst providing performing opportunities for emerging artists. Initiatives such as "Live From The Stables" provided a platform for emerging talent including Gwyneth Herbert, Jamie Cullum, Lemar, Jamie Scott, Amy Winehouse and Clare Teal to perform with the Dankworth Big Band and on the same platform as established artists such as Curtis Stigers, Craig David, Beverley Knight, Marti Pellow, Alison Moyet and Chrissie Hynde. 

As you may know, Milton Keynes has been heralded the UK’s newest and most dynamic city due to its growing population of more than 227,800 people and 10,000 businesses. And at the heart of this is Milton Keynes Theatre - a theatre and entertainment centre of excellence in the region, managed by the Ambassador Theatre Group, itself the second largest theatre group in the UK. And what a theatre it is. Opening on 4 October 1999, after a 25 year campaign to get a new theatre bulit, our 1400 seat auditorium, with its fully retracting ceiling that provides a more intimate viewing experience, makes every visit memorable. And let’s not forget the shows themselves. We offer a wide and varied programme of first class dance, drama, musicals, opera, comedy and children's shows – perfect for all ages to enjoy. Also, along with West End and world-class productions, there are many exciting ways for you to get involved. This could be through our Creative Learning department, who offer many show-based workshops and classes for all ages, including an incredibly succesful Youth Theatre. Our community productions are also popular with local groups having the opportunity to perform on our stage. If you're interested in more than just what happens on stage you can book a backstage tour where you can learn more about the building and see behind the scenes of a working theatre.