About the theatre

The Chrysalis Theatre

A working theatre and conference venue in Willen Park, run by Camphill Milton Keynes & Northants.

Exterior of the Chrysalis Theatre building
Two identities, one building

A Theatre That Works Hard

The Chrysalis has two lives. From Monday to Wednesday daytimes it is a workshop space for the people we support, home to our drama workshop. The rest of the week it is a professional venue, hosting performances, conferences, training and community events for organisations across Milton Keynes.

That versatility is what makes it special: a fully working theatre that can turn from a stage set into a conference room overnight.

Auditorium set for a performance
Auditorium set for a conference
Drama workshop session
Archive photo of the Chrysalis Theatre
Our story

The Story of the Chrysalis

The Chrysalis opened in 2004 after a two-year self-build community project. It was built to serve the Camphill Milton Keynes community, and its design grows out of Camphill’s roots in the ideas of Rudolf Steiner and Karl König. Today it hosts theatre workshops and performances, singing, eurythmy, bell ringing, gatherings and celebrations, alongside public shows, concerts and conferences. Over the years the stage has welcomed Warwick Davis, Priscilla Presley, Barry Humphries, Felix Dennis and Jonathan Dimbleby.

The space

What’s in the Building

View the gallery

Auditorium

209 raked seats, with a removable front row that gives up to 13 wheelchair spaces.

Stage

The stage is 9.16m deep and up to 18.22m wide, with a 9.4m proscenium arch, a sprung polished wood floor and four moveable legs on each side. There are two dressing rooms with lit mirrors and sinks, and four toilets, one with a shower and one wheelchair accessible.

Technical

A Strand 300 lighting desk with 120 dimmers and a rig of profiles, fresnels, PCs, parcans and floods. Sound runs through an Allen & Heath desk and four front-of-house speakers, with radio and wired microphones. A digital projector and cinema screen are available.

Access

Step-free from the front doors to the auditorium, two accessible toilets, seven Blue Badge parking spaces and a Flexstep lift to the stage.

The team

Meet the Team

The Chrysalis Theatre team
Theatre Manager

The Chrysalis Team

Our theatre manager looks after the building, bookings, hires and events at the Chrysalis, and is the person you will deal with from first enquiry to show day.

Get involved

Plan Your Event at the Chrysalis

Available to hire Thursday to Sunday, plus Monday to Wednesday evenings.