Shakespeare North Playhouse
ENTRY
from £5
WHERE
Prescot
What it’s like
A proper theatre in Prescot with family shows, tours and a play area by the café, and you decide what to pay for some performances.
This is a working theatre with three separate performance spaces, the Cockpit Theatre being the main one, plus an outdoor garden that opens in summer and a smaller Studio space. The programme leans into fairy tales and Shakespeare done in a family-friendly way, and there are guided tours if you fancy seeing behind the scenes rather than just watching a show. There's a children's play area next to the café too, handy if you're waiting around or need somewhere for a younger one to fidget before curtain up.
The Pay What You Decide scheme is the detail worth knowing: some performances start from £5 and you settle on the price after you've seen it, which is a nice way to try something out without committing to a full ticket price upfront. Worth remembering the site says tickets can't usually be exchanged or refunded outside exceptional circumstances, so it pays to be fairly sure of your dates before booking.
It's open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and closed Sunday and Monday except on show days, so check which category your visit falls into before you turn up expecting the café to be open on a Sunday afternoon. The café does hot and cold drinks, snacks and light lunches, and there are two bars for a pre-show or interval drink if that's more your speed.
Access has clearly had proper thought put into it: lifts to every floor, accessible toilets on each level, Sennheiser receivers for audio description, and a regular slot of BSL interpreted, captioned, audio described and relaxed performances in the programme. There's also a virtual reality version of the Cockpit Theatre online if you want to see what your seats will actually look like before you book, which is a genuinely useful touch rather than a gimmick.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free parking at Mill Street (2 min walk)
- Food
- Café serving hot and cold drinks, snacks, light lunches and pre-theatre bites
- Wheelchairs
- Full wheelchair access. Lifts to all floors
- Getting there by bus or train
- Prescot Train Station 12 min walk
- Book with confidence: there's a virtual reality preview of the Cockpit Theatre seats online
- The building closes for essential maintenance from 11 to 29 January 2026
- Prescot Bus Station is a one minute walk away, and the train station is about 12 minutes on foot
- The outdoor Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden only runs in summer months
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Some performances run on a Pay What You Decide basis from £5, where you choose what to pay after watching. Other shows will have their own ticket prices.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Closed Sunday and Monday except on show days.
Is there parking nearby?
Free parking at Mill Street, a two minute walk, or free parking at Prescot Shopping Centre, about five minutes away. There's also a paid NCP at Deanes House just a minute from the venue.
Is the building wheelchair accessible?
Yes, there's full wheelchair access with lifts to every floor and accessible toilets on each level. Sennheiser receivers are available for audio description.
What food is available?
The café serves hot and cold drinks, snacks and light lunches, plus pre-theatre bites. There are two bars for drinks before the show or during the interval.
Can we get a refund if plans change?
Tickets and vouchers generally can't be exchanged or refunded. Exceptional circumstances are considered if you get in touch at least 48 hours before the event, and there's an option to protect your tickets for a refund anytime up to the show.
Do you do accessible performances?
There are regular BSL interpreted, captioned, audio described with touch tours, and relaxed performances built into the programme.
Is there anything for younger children to do while we wait?
There's a children's play area next to the café. The site also runs regular free family activities and community sessions.
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