OUR STORY

Omnibus Theatre is a multi-award-winning independent theatre in Clapham, South London. The heart of our ambitious programme, inspired by our building’s literary heritage, lies in both classics re-imagined and contemporary storytelling. We provide a platform for new writing and interdisciplinary work, aiming to give voice to the underrepresented and challenge perceptions. We believe in affordable tickets and theatre for all.

Since opening in 2013 notable in-house productions include Woyzeck (2013), Macbeth (2014), Colour (2015), Mule (2016), Spring Offensive (2017), Zeraffa Giraffa (2017), Queens of Sheba (2019) and The Little Prince (2019). Omnibus Theatre is led by Artistic Director Marie McCarthy. We are a registered charity and receive no core funding.

Patrons include Dame Judi Dench, Sir Michael Gambon, Lord Michael Cashman, Matthew Warchus, Sir Richard Eyre and Maggi Hambling.

Our venue is home to our Theatre (90-110 seats) and the Studio Upstairs (80 seats), a café/bar and two performance and rehearsal spaces. To find out more about How We Programme click here. To see What’s On click here.

Our History

Omnibus Theatre was opened on the 14th November 2013 by the Mayor of Lambeth, following a seven-year community-led campaign to save the old Clapham Library from developers. Our much-loved Victorian building was transformed by locals into an arts hub, maintaining the heritage of the library as a civic space for all.

Since then Omnibus Theatre has grown from a fledgling arts centre into an award-winning independent theatre, home to an ambitious programme driven by the library’s legacy of sharing stories.

Our Mission

Omnibus Theatre is a home of storytelling – a small place to encounter big ideas. We are driven by the legacy of our former library building to tell stories, familiar and unknown, in South London and beyond. Our mission is to create theatre that has the power to inspire audiences, to change minds, to bring us together.

Our Values

Omnibus Theatre nurtures emerging artists and new voices, presenting work that is ambitious and relevant. We are committed to making our work affordable and introducing it to new audiences. You can expect a warm welcome when you step through our doors.