Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

The Wyvern Theatre stands in Theatre Square, in the heart of Swindon, and has been the town's main receiving house since 1971. Built as part of the Swindon Civic Centre and named after the mythical wyvern once used as an emblem by the kings of Wessex, it seats 635 people, with every seat designed to be no more than 70ft from the stage. Owned by Swindon Borough Council and run by Trafalgar Theatres alongside the smaller Swindon Arts Centre, it offers a mixed programme of plays, live music, comedy, dance, family shows and a Christmas pantomime.

The theatre was built from 1968 to 1971 by the architects Casson, Conder and Partners as part of the Swindon Civic Centre, and it took its name from the wyvern, the dragon-like creature once thought to be the emblem of the kings of Wessex. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip opened the building on 7 September 1971, and the first performance was given by a Ukrainian dance company.

For its first 23 years the theatre was run by the Wyvern Arts Trust, after which a series of commercial operators took over, among them Apollo Leisure, SFX Venues, Clear Channel Entertainment and Hetherington Seelig Theatres. HQ Theatres ran the venue from 2007, and when that company was acquired by Trafalgar Entertainment in March 2021 the Wyvern joined the Trafalgar Theatres family.

In September 2006 a routine inspection found traces of asbestos in the offices and roof void, and the theatre closed for a year. The shutdown was used as an opportunity to invest: the 1.3 million pound refurbishment brought new decor, new bars and cafes, new seating and improved entrances for disabled patrons, and the Wyvern reopened in September 2007. It closed again in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, returning to work in 2021.

The theatre's long-term future has been under discussion for some years. In March 2019 Swindon Borough Council said the building was likely to reach the end of its working life by 2027, when the operating contract ends, and in September 2024 proposals were published for a new, larger multi-purpose theatre on the site of the town's bus station. Those plans suggest the existing Wyvern would be kept and repurposed as a performance space for community arts groups.

The Wyvern aims to welcome everyone, and the team is happy to talk through your needs before you book.

• Accessible seating and wheelchair spaces: book by calling the ticket office on 01793 535534. Wheelchair spaces are sized for standard wheelchairs, so please mention it at the time of booking if yours is larger.
• Entrances: if you have accessible seats at the front of the auditorium, use the accessible entrance to the right of the theatre. For accessible seats in Box A at the back, use the Theatre Square entrance, which leads into the upper foyer.
• Carer tickets: one complimentary carer ticket is offered with your booking, subject to verification.
• Accessible toilets: there are two. One is in the lower foyer, reached from the stalls and from the ground level external entrance, and one is inside Box A in the upper foyer, between the ticket office and the cafe.
• Hearing assistance: the venue uses the Wi-Fi based Sennheiser Mobile Connect system, which streams the performance to your own phone or tablet through headphones or hearing aids. Download the free app in advance and bring a fully charged device, and ask for a neck loop if you listen through hearing aids. A limited number of devices and headsets can be borrowed.
• BSL interpreted performances: selected performances are signed, with the interpreter positioned to the side of the stage.
• Assistance dogs: welcome in the auditorium. Let the team know when booking so an adjacent seat can be arranged, or staff can look after your dog during the show.
• Effects: announcements are made for performances using strobe or flashing lights, pyrotechnics, haze or loud bangs. Speak to a duty manager on arrival if this affects you.

Additional security checks are in place, so allow a little extra time on arrival.