Rosehill Theatre

Rosehill Theatre is a theatre and cinema in Moresby, Whitehaven, Cumbria, England, and one of West Cumbria's principal cultural venues. It was created in 1959 when the silk merchant Sir Nicholas Sekers bought the interior of a small Whitehaven music hall, moved it to his barn, and invited the celebrated stage and film designer Oliver Messel to transform it into a theatre. The result was the 'rose-red, silk-lined jewel box' that has surprised and delighted generations of visitors. Early performers who made their creative home at Rosehill included a young David Bowie. The venue operates as a mixed-arts house, presenting classical performers, pop stars, comedians, local artists, dramatic theatre, cinema, children's entertainment and more. It underwent a redevelopment in 2017 that upgraded facilities, improved accessibility and re-lined the Grade II listed theatre in its trademark rose-red silk fabric. In 2019, Rosehill Picture House opened after cinema equipment was installed in the existing auditorium, enabling the theatre to show blockbuster movies and live screenings of large-scale national and international productions. Rosehill is owned and run by Rosehill Arts Trust Limited (RATL), a charitable trust and company limited by guarantee established under the laws of England, governed by a Memorandum and Articles incorporated on 17 June 1959 and most recently amended by special resolution dated 11 November 2019. It is registered with the Charity Commission (No 250846) and at Companies House (company number 00630615). Its mission is to promote well-being, enjoyment and connection, allowing everyone access to quality arts and cultural experiences. In 2020 the Garfield Weston Foundation funded the appointment of a specialist in creative community engagement to lead a year-long period of Creative R&D, engaging underserved communities local to Rosehill, building partnerships and strengthening its stable of artists and freelancers. Learning from that process informed a refreshed vision, mission and values, and a wide-ranging organisational review upgraded management and governance and recruited new trustees. A Creative and Community Strategy for 2023–2026 sets out aims around community connectivity and care, cultural families, and place-based cultural development in Copeland and West Cumbria. Rosehill works collaboratively with regional and national organisations and describes its impact as extending far beyond its Grade II listed building.

Rosehill Theatre's history begins in 1959, when the silk merchant Sir Nicholas Sekers bought the interior of a tiny Whitehaven music hall, shipped it to his barn, and invited the celebrated stage and film designer Oliver Messel to transform it into a theatre. The outcome was described as a 'rose-red, silk-lined jewel box' that has surprised and delighted generations of visitors to Rosehill. The venue quickly became a creative home for the next generation of performers, among them a young David Bowie. Rosehill Arts Trust Limited (RATL) was established as a charitable trust and company limited by guarantee under the laws of England, governed by a Memorandum and Articles incorporated on 17 June 1959, most recently amended by special resolution dated 11 November 2019. It is registered with the Charity Commission (Charity Registration No 250846) and at Companies House (company number 00630615). For over 60 years, Rosehill has brought a rich mix of performance to West Cumbria, spanning classical performers, pop stars, comedians, local artists, dramatic theatre, cinema and children's entertainment. In 2017 the theatre underwent a redevelopment that upgraded facilities to make the venue more accessible and re-lined the Grade II listed theatre in its trademark rose-red silk fabric. In 2019, Rosehill Picture House opened after the installation of new cinema equipment into the existing auditorium, enabling the theatre to show the latest blockbuster movies and live screenings of large-scale productions from national and international theatres. In 2020, Rosehill received funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, which enabled it to appoint an experienced specialist in creative community engagement to lead a year-long period of Creative R&D. That work encompassed engagement with underserved communities local to Rosehill, building relationships with partners and strengthening the organisation's stable of artists and other freelancers. Using learning from the Creative R&D process, Rosehill refocussed its Vision, Mission and Values, and a wide-ranging Organisational Review gave it the tools to focus and upgrade management and governance and recruit new trustees to complete the skills mix needed to achieve its goals. Building on these foundations, Rosehill set out a Creative and Community Strategy for 2023–2026, dramatically expanding its work for and with communities. Its stated aims for 2023–26 include community connectivity and care, cultural families, and place-based cultural development in Copeland and West Cumbria. The organisation describes itself as a cultural organisation based in West Cumbria that works collaboratively with regional and national organisations to provide cultural experiences and opportunities for the communities of West Cumbria and beyond, with a vision of positive and lasting cultural and social impact in which everyone can access quality arts and cultural experiences.

• 2023

  Rosehill sets out its Creative and Community Strategy for 2023–2026.

• 2020

  Funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation enables the appointment of a creative community engagement specialist to lead a year-long Creative R&D period.

• 2019

  Rosehill Picture House opens after cinema equipment is installed in the existing auditorium, enabling film screenings and live broadcasts.

• 2019

  The Memorandum and Articles are most recently amended by special resolution dated 11 November 2019.

• 2017

  Rosehill undergoes a redevelopment, upgrading facilities for accessibility and re-lining the Grade II listed theatre in its trademark rose-red silk fabric.

• 1959

  Sir Nicholas Sekers buys the interior of a Whitehaven music hall and has Oliver Messel transform it into a theatre at his barn, creating Rosehill.

• 1959

  Rosehill Arts Trust Limited's Memorandum and Articles are incorporated on 17 June 1959.

A community-minded, place-inspired cultural organisation in West Cumbria, combining a historic Grade II listed theatre with cinema and participatory programmes to widen access to quality arts and culture.

• Theatre performances

  Dramatic theatre, classical performers, pop stars, comedians and local artists.

• Cinema and screenings

  Blockbuster movies and live screenings of large-scale national and international productions via Rosehill Picture House.

• Family and children's entertainment

  Family shows, drama club and tent club activities for children and families.

• Participatory classes and socials

  Pilates, yoga, art socials and other take-part activities.

• Exhibitions

  The People's Gallery exhibitions and other visual arts displays.

1. 1Home | Rosehillrosehilltheatre.co.uk
2. 2Our Story | Rosehillrosehilltheatre.co.uk
3. 3About Us | Rosehillrosehilltheatre.co.uk
4. 4Our Work | Rosehillrosehilltheatre.co.uk
5. 5Rosehill Theatrewikidata.org