Repertory

The amateur Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre used the former Church of St Simon & St Jude as its venue. The exterior is typical of a small late Victorian church with neither tower nor steeple. There is a south aisle but a series of gables on the north side, in place of the usual aisle, where the scene dock is situated. At the rear is an addition (original) which was formerly the church school and later used as the theatre workshop until around 1990.

There was virtually no foyer,the entrance doorway leading almost directly into the rear of the auditorium. Seating (part raked) was confined within the line of wooden pillars supporting the roof. There was no orchestra pit, any musicians having to be accommodated on the same level as the front seats. Flat stage. The building was in deteriorating condition and was too small for the company by the 1990s. The new Rep opened in 1998 on a site in Leek Road. The company had been trying to purchase the Longton Empire as their new home and were within two days of signing when that theatre went up in flames on the last day of 1992.