Anyone looking to enjoy a night in a Bedford theatre can make a whole evening of it, as there are good restaurants, bars and clubs to be found throughout the surrounding towns and cities.

Bedford Theatre

There are a few good theatres in Bedford itself and the Bedford Corn Exchange and The Place are the primary attractions. The Corn Exchange was originally built back in the 1800s and the old building is a pleasure to enjoy a show in. Visitors can hold banquets and conferences in the Exchange as well as watch performances and there is good access available for those with physical disabilities.

The Place is another popular Bedford theatre and this particular venue holds 130 people and anything from operas and dramas through to tap dancing and Christmas pantomimes can be enjoyed here. It was built in the 1960s but it was only in 2003 that it was transformed from an old boxing club into a fully functioning theatre.

Bedfordshire Theatres

Dunstable is home to The Grove Theatre and here visitors can make use of a range of facilities with online booking, group discounts and travel information all readily available. Shows including performances by the likes of Elkie Brooks can be seen in the 780-seat auditorium and famous ballets such as Swan Lake are also popular here. A few miles away in Leighton Buzzard, theatre fans can visit the aptly named Leighton Buzzard Theatre, which lays claim to being the only small-scale professional theatre in the area. The theatre shows various film performances, dramas, music and community theatre, children's events and activities throughout the year and there is a cinema found in the same building.

What to Expect from your Bedfordshire Theatre

Bedfordshire is a big county and it is home to many interesting places. Bedford itself is a bustling part of the county and the theatres here boast all types of shows from standup comedy through to ballets. Musicals, operas, seasonal shows such as Christmas pantomimes and dramas are all easily found and famous names have played in Bedfordshire theatres many a time. Chas and Dave, Jethro and Colin Fry are all due to appear in Bedford this year and parking is available close to all the major theatres in the town.

While the theatres in Bedford may not be sizable in comparison to nearby theatres found in London and Milton Keynes, they do offer visitors the chance to experience performances on a smaller scale with a more intimate experience. There are many local amateur groups including the Swan Theatre Company, the Bedford Dramatic Club and the Bedford Marionettes. The Bedford Civic Theatre is run by the Corn Exchange and the Bedfringe Festival is often held here. The University of Bedfordshire also has a theatre and film, poetry, music and comedy are all on the programme for 2011.

The internet is often a great way to make a booking while events over the festive period may need to be pre-booked due to their popularity. Whatever you want from your Bedford theatre experience it will be easy to find as the theatres in the county offer a wide range of shows to choose between.