About the Show

The ABTT Theatre Show draws exhibitors and visitors from all over the world whether they be interested in lighting, audio visual, scenography, rigging, set construction, sound, costume, seating, staging, wigs, make-up, pyrotechnics or anything else employed in a performance. It provides THE essential meeting point for our community – supporting our suppliers, service providers and networks with the opportunity both to renew existing relationships and to forge exciting new connections.

We always exhibit at the ABTT Theatre Show… lots of people come here with it being in the heart of London and being so easy to get to! The show has always been good for networking, for socialising and looking at all the products on the market – as its all under one roof! The ABTT Theatre Show is unique as it specialises in Theatre and Live Events so we get to meet those people in the heart of the Industry!

General Information

The Theatre Show is the place for conversation, collaboration, mentoring and training no matter how you connect to the theatre and live performance sector. In addition to the exhibition a range of activities will be presented over the two days, including a variety of meetings, debates and seminars and providing spaces for all our sister Associations and organisations to meet in person (something we’ve all sorely missed over the last two years).

With over 150 suppliers relating to live performance technology engage with those responsible for delivery in the world of theatre, events, festivals, sport, film and TV, the ABTT Theatre Show also provides a range of peripheral activities to support the exhibition, including a variety of meetings, debates and seminars and providing spaces for all our sister Associations and bodies to meet in person – a well established annual networking opportunity for the technical community.

The next ABTT Theatre Show will take place at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th June 2025. The event was last presented in June 2024, where the diverse range of exhibitors and comprehensive programme of events and workshops saw another successful year of this staple Industry event

Why was the ABTT Theatre Show created?

The purpose of the ABTT Theatre Show is to bring together drama schools, Trade Associations and live entertainment under one roof to help explore the connection between these different Industries. The ABTT Theatre Show is the exhibition where the broadest collection of specialist suppliers supporting live performance technology and production gather to connect with those who deliver the performance in the world of theatre, events, festivals, music and increasingly sport, film, TV and more..

“The ABTT Theatre Show is an event where suppliers of goods and services meet up with industry professionals…(and students) involved in the staging of live performance.”

Exhibitor Technology, Live performance and specialist advice is made available for a wide range of issues which relate to theatres and places of entertainment. These include theatre design, sound design, stage lighting, live performance and issues relating to health and safety issues matters that relate to places of entertainment.

What is the ABTT Theatre Show about?

The ABTT Theatre Show draws exhibitors and visitors from all over the world whether they be interested in lighting, audio visual, scenography, rigging, set construction, sound, costume, seating, staging, wigs, make-up, pyrotechnics or anything else employed in a performance. The Theatre Show is the place for conversation, collaboration, mentoring and training no matter how you connect to the theatre and live performance sector. In addition to the exhibition a range of activities will be presented over the two days, including a variety of meetings, debates and seminars and providing spaces for all our sister Associations and organisations to meet in person

THEATRE SPECIALISTS
The ABTT Theatre Show is the home of theatre specialists. A broad spectrum of companies and organisations exhibit and more than that, the combination of exhibitors and visitors make the two day show an exceptional networking opportunity.

AUDIO
We offer a practical environment for the audio industry. Live demonstrations are now very much part of the event in our studio space.

STAGE ENGINEERING & RIGGING
A wealth of technical disciplines are covered at the show. Relevant to venue operators, production staff and theatre consultants, we also have exhibitors addressing Health & Safety, Codes of Practice and other relevant matters

SCENIC & SET CONSTRUCTION
Relevant across theatre, TV, film and commercial work, our exhibitors offer a broad range of scenic solutions.

LIGHTING & AV
Leading lighting companies exhibit the latest technologies and products. The Theatre Show is a major networking opportunity for lighting designers and production electricians.

TRAINING
The ABTT Theatre Show brings together Drama Schools and Trade Associations under one roof. Anyone exploring the possibility of a future in the industry will derive significant value from a visit to the show. Increasingly, a number of companies now offer apprenticeships.

What is the history of the ABTT Theatre Show?

The ABTT Theatre show has been running since 1978. Originally named The ABTT Trade show, it was rebranded in the 2001 to make the annual event more accessible to a wider audience including front of house theatre services.
This has resulted in the growth of both exhibitors and attendees. Details on our previous shows can be found in the drop down.

The show originally started in 1978 at the hands of principal organiser Roger Fox (still current Theatre Show director) and ABTT members Bob Anderson, Joe Aveline, David Adams and Richard York at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, RSC Warehouse in Covent Garden, moving on to the Piccadilly Theatre in 1979.

ABTT Fellow Ian Albery is part of the Albery theatre family who owned the Donmar Warehouse Theatre and the Piccadilly Theatre and facilitated the ABTT in getting the Theatre Show started

From 1980, the event was situated in the Shaftesbury Theatre; proceeding in 1981-82 to The Roundhouse and Riverside Studios during 1984-90.

The Mermaid Theatre hosted the show in 1991 and then it relocated to The Royal Horticultural Halls where it stayed until 2011. The move from the Royal Horticultural Halls came after the sale of the hall to Westminster School – who planned to convert the exhibition space in to a sports hall.

The ABTT then moved the Theatre Show to The Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch after deciding that an event space, rather than an exhibition hall would “provide everything we need to use… (with it being ) a quirky venue… exhibitors have welcomed the choice.” and since then Alexandra Palace has held the event from 2015 to present.

In 2018, Roger Fox will be celebrating his 40th anniversary as Theatre Show Director along with the Theatre Shows 40th anniversary on 6-7th June 2018.

In 2019 Isobel Hatton took the reigns as the ABTT Theatre Show for her first show as Theatre Show Director with huge success, continuing in the role until 2020 when COVID forced the ABTT to postpone the Theatre Show.

In 2022, the ABTT Theatre Show returned to Alexandra Palace with ABTT Association and Events Manager, Elysia Moore at the helm. The shows’ successful return provided the industry with a place to share knowledge, grow ideas and promote discussion following a 2 year hiatus.

Register for the ABTT Theatre Show 2024!

Get your FREE ticket for the 5th – 6th June now!

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