About

The great circle of the Rose’s astonishing auditorium is a symbol of everything that we do: combining great intimacy with epic scale, the Rose is all-embracing, warm hearted and of the highest possible national standards.

Situated at the heart of South West London, the Rose opened its doors in January 2008 and offers a unique theatrical centre to the entire region. It has its roots in Kingston, but serves more than a million people who live and work in the region.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director, Stephen Unwin, the Rose offers a rich programme of artistic activity, for people from all backgrounds and tastes. It combines the highest artistic standards, a resolute commitment to learning, and a determination to involve the broader community in what we do.

Central to the dream are the Rose Theatre Productions. Our varied repertoire consists of classical revivals, neglected modern masterpieces, new translations of foreign plays and occasional world premieres. All of these are presented with a robust commitment to language and story telling and a direct and intimate connection with the audience.
The Rose is committed to providing a wide range of participation and learning activities. We enjoy strong educational links with Kingston University, providing resources and space for their performing arts courses.

We rely on the generosity and commitment of a huge range of people: supporters, friends, volunteers, trustees and staff. The Rose is supported by the Royal Borough of Kingston and Kingston University as well as several Trusts and Foundations and Corporate supports. It receives no regular funding from Arts Council England and is dependent on box office income to flourish.