[3][4] It was also used as a cinema, with the first projection being made in December 1896 only a month after the first film shown in Durham (at the Court Lane Theatre).

The university used the theatre as a drill hall until the 1950s, when it was renovated to enable theatrical performances to be hosted once again;[5] one of the earliest performances was a production of Pirates of Penzance by the Durham Colleges Light Opera Group in 1950.

[8] This was followed by a further £2.4M refurbishment in 2019, that reduced capacity to 175 but added wheel chair access, a bar and a lift, as well as restoring the ornate ceiling and removing asbestos.

The theatre annually participates in and hosts the Durham Drama Festival in February.

[14][15] Outside of term time, the theatre sometimes hosts external companies and touring productions.