Does it apply to your theatre?
The Act covers a building mainly used for a Schedule 1 use where it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people may be present at the same time, from time to time (s.2(2)). Theatres, arts centres and concert venues fall under "entertainment, leisure or recreation" (Sch 1 para 3). Selling tickets doesn't stop your audience counting as members of the public (Sch 1 para 18).
Count everyone at your busiest regular performance: audience, cast, crew, front-of-house, bar staff and volunteers.
- 200–799 people: Standard Tier.
- 800 or more: Enhanced Tier (s.2(3)). Theatres, unlike places of worship and schools, have no special rule keeping them Standard. Enhanced Tier brings extra duties, so take professional advice and read the SIA and ProtectUK guidance.
Check your venue in two minutes with our free scope checker.
Who is responsible?
Whoever has control of the premises in connection with that use (s.4(1)). If a trust owns the building and a separate company runs it, both may be responsible and can act jointly (s.4(4)). Visiting companies don't usually take over your duty, but they need to know your procedures.
What you have to do (Standard Tier)
So far as is reasonably practicable, have appropriate procedures for evacuation, invacuation (moving people to a safer place inside), lockdown and communication if there is reason to suspect an act of terrorism is happening or about to happen nearby (s.5). Make sure the people who would carry them out are informed and, where appropriate, trained, and notify the SIA within three months of the duties starting, using its free service (Notification Requirements Regulations 2026). The notification asks for the most people you expect at once and how you worked that out, so keep a note of your counting. Standard Tier doesn't require physical alterations.
What the four procedures might look like in a theatre
Examples to help you think, not legal requirements:
- Evacuation: your fire evacuation is a good base, but plan for leaving by exits away from the foyer if the threat is at the front of house.
- Invacuation: holding the audience in the auditorium with the doors closed can be safer than sending them into the street. Decide who makes that call.
- Lockdown: who closes the foyer doors and stage door, and how the box office and bar are secured.
- Communication: a pre-agreed show-stop announcement from the stage manager, a front-of-house radio call, and who calls 999.
Briefing front-of-house and volunteers
Many theatres rely on volunteer ushers. Add a two-minute briefing to every pre-show talk and keep a record of who has had it. Make sure duty managers and stage managers know they can stop the show.
Checklist
- Check whether you are in scope, and which tier, and keep a dated note of your reasoning
- Agree who is responsible, including with any building owner or operator
- Write short procedures for the four areas, including a show-stop announcement
- Brief duty managers, stage managers, ushers and bar staff, and record it
- Practise at a quiet time and note what you'd change
- Write down how you worked out your maximum number of people (for example seats plus standing room, staff and volunteers)
- Notify the SIA within three months of the duties starting (it is free)
- Review once a year, and before unusually large events