• What’s On
  • Your Visit
  • Schools
  • Take Part Workshops
  • Support Us
  • More +
Access Tools

Blog & News

Access and Support

About Polka

  • History
  • Blog & News

Jobs/Volunteering

Community

  • Polka Invites

FAQs

For Artists

Hire Us

Gift Vouchers

Contact Us

Activity Hub

  • What’s On
  • Your Visit
    • Your Visit
    • Your Visit
    • Our Café
    • Brochure
  • Schools
    • Schools
    • Schools
    • Workshops
    • Performances
    • Schools Access
    • Funded Schemes
      • Funded Schemes
      • Freefalling
      • Curtain Up!
      • Arts Access
      • Write Here Write Now
    • Teacher Hub
    • Work Experience
  • Take Part Workshops
    • Take Part Workshops
    • Take Part
    • Weekly Clubs
      • Weekly Clubs
      • Arts Award
    • Drop-in Sessions
    • Holiday Workshops & Summer Schools
    • Young Ambassador Scheme
    • Saturday Club
  • Support Us
    • Support Us
    • Pay It Forward
    • Individual Giving
    • Trusts and Foundations
    • Our Supporters
  • More
    • More
    • Access and Support
    • About Polka
      • History
      • Blog & News
    • Jobs/Volunteering
    • Community
      • Polka Invites
    • FAQs
    • For Artists
    • Hire Us
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Contact Us
    • Activity Hub
  • Follow us

Polka Theatre Announces Winner of New Polka Playwriting Award: Sarah Middleton’s ‘Dweeb-A-Mania’

23rd January 2025

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive Lynette Shanbury, and the whole team are pleased to…

Read more

Polka wins UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award

26th November 2024

Last month, we were overjoyed to be announced…

Read more

Casting and creative team announced for world premiere stage adaptation of Sir Lenny Henry’s best-selling children’s book

1st May 2025

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers,…

Read more

Q&A with Rachel Barnett-Jones, Writer of The PEA and the Princess

5th March 2025

Sam, a member of our Young Ambassadors Scheme…

Read more

Talking Tales – February Update

12th February 2025

Talking Tales is a two-year inquiry-led project, funded…

Read more
To the left, two girls in hijabs sit atop a skate ramp holding skateboards and smiling. To the right: A headshot of Asif Khan, a South Asian man with a beard dressed in a dark top.

Q&A with Asif Khan, writer of Sisters 360

11th February 2025

Discover how our brand-new show, Sisters 360 came to…

Read more

Making Polka Accessible – Executive Director and Joint CEO Lynette Shanbury writes about accessibility and inclusion at Polka

31st January 2025

 

Welcome to Polka

…
Read more

2024: Polka’s Year in Review

29th January 2025

2024 was a special year for Polka Theatre…

Read more

Polka Theatre Announces Winner of New Polka Playwriting Award: Sarah Middleton’s ‘Dweeb-A-Mania’

23rd January 2025

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive

Read more

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024 is open!

3rd December 2024

Support Polka’s Access for All Campaign

The Big Give Christmas…

Read more

Playwriting Award – Shortlist Announcement

28th November 2024

In Spring of this year, Polka launched our inaugural Playwriting…

Read more

Polka Theatre annouces further shows to complete their Spring/Summer Season, plus Festive 25/26 productions

20th November 2024

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers,…

Read more

World Premiere Stage Adaptation of Sir Lenny Henry’s Best-selling Children’s Book The Boy with Wings

18th September 2024

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers,…

Read more

Polka Theatre’s ‘Curtain Up!’ Subsidised Ticket Scheme To Expand To 9,000 Free School Tickets Thanks To Increased Support From The Garek Trust

5th September 2024

Curtain-Up!, Polka Theatre’s landmark subsidised ticket scheme that provides…

Read more

Polka Theatre nominated as UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre in the UK Theatre Awards

16th August 2024

We are absolutely thrilled to…

Read more

Polka Theatre Launches New Two-Year Teacher Development Programme This September Exploring The Impact of Drama on Oracy (Speaking and Listening) Skills For Pupils

10th July 2024

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers,…

Read more

Polka Theatre Launches New Polka Playwriting Award Championing Playwriting and Creation of Work for Young Audiences

8th July 2024

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers,…

Read more

Q&A with Set and Costume Designer Liam Bunster (Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts)

6th June 2024

Learn all about the set and costume design…

Read more
School children sat laughing in a theatre auditorium

Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation supports Polka Theatre’s Curtain Up! Programme

23rd May 2024

Fantastic news for the continued development of Polka’s…

Read more
Two young women wearing hijabs, colourful hoodies and knee and elbow pads sit smiling together at the top of a skate ramp.

Polka Theatre Announces Details of Autumn/Winter 2024-25 Season

15th May 2024

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers,…

Read more

Interview with Steve Tasane, writer of Ten in the Bed

8th April 2024

Ten in the Bed is written by award-winning teenage fiction…

Read more

Polka Theatre Announces Six Artists to be Supported as Part of its Catapult Programme Along With Three New Associate Companies

28th March 2024

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers…

Read more

Q&A with Erin C. Guan, designer of Romeo and Juliet

22nd February 2024

We’re thrilled to be bringing a brand-new adaptation of

Read more

Polka announces the Tidy Community Project

14th February 2024

Polka’s Community Team invite you to join us for a…

Read more

Polka Theatre Announces New Catapult Programme In Its 45th Anniversary Year

25th January 2024

Giving opportunities to artists to take their First, and Next…

Read more

As Polka Theatre Looks Ahead to its 45th Anniversary Year, New Shows are Announced for 2024

6th December 2023

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers,…

Read more

The Big Give Christmas Challenge!

22nd November 2023

POLKA NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Children are…

Read more

Stage Adaptation of Best-Selling Children’s Books to Open Next Summer at Polka Theatre with the Premier of Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts and How To Catch a Star

6th November 2023

Tickets on sale now at polkatheatre.com…

Read more

An interview with Alison Cramp – Remembering Dylan-James

25th October 2023

Ernest Evwaraye is the Family Wellbeing Service Deputy…

Read more
Three images: A man in a khaki shirt with a microphone, two young children playing, and a woman in brightly coloured clothing dancing on an oversized bench.

Polka to Premiere a New Hip-Hop Production of Romeo and Juliet and Will Launch a Pilot Touring Programme to Bring the Show to Local Schools

27th September 2023

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers…

Read more
A woman looks out with a shocked expression from the inside of a washing machine. Text reads: Zoe's Peculiar Journey Through Time

Q&A with Jimmy Osborne, co-writer of Zoe’s Peculiar Journey Through Time

20th September 2023

Ahead of Theatre-Rites “small eco-miracle” show, Zoe’s Peculiar Journey Through…

Read more

Polka Theatre presents a double bill of festive family shows for 2023

13th September 2023

Full casting and creative team details have been announced for…

Read more

Q&A with The Snow Queen Writer, Jude Christian

26th June 2023

We asked Jude Christian, the writer of our Christmas 2023…

Read more

Details Announced for Polka Theatre’s Autumn-Winter Season 2023/2024

8th June 2023
Featuring new commissions, children’s book adaptations, touring productions and festive…
Read more

The world premiere of an original children’s theatre show by Spymonkey

17th May 2023

Hairy – a hilarious new show for 6 – 12…

Read more

Q&A with the creators of Hairy

12th May 2023

We sat down with Toby Park and Aitor Basauri, co-creators…

Read more
A Bug hotel: A wooden box filled with wood and pinecones, covered with mesh wiring

Polka Champions Green Initiatives

21st April 2023

The theme of Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest In Our…

Read more

Newly appointed Polka Theatre Artistic Director sets out her artistic vision and announces 2023 Christmas offering

18th April 2023
Helen Matravers announces The Snow Queen – the first commission…
Read more

A Q+A with Let’s Build!’s Designer and Set Builder

29th March 2023

Let’s Build! is a show all about the magic of…

Read more

A Q&A with Nathan Curry, Co-Artistic Director of Tangled Feet

13th February 2023
Read more

Polka Theatre Announces New Artistic Director

16th January 2023

 

Our Board of Trustees are pleased to announce the…

Read more

Polka Theatre Announces Full Programming For Spring/Summer 2023

10th January 2023

Polka Theatre announced further programming for our exciting…

Read more

Is an access performance for me?

15th November 2022

What are access performances at Polka?

Access performances are specially…

Read more

Polka Festive Programme for Schools

20th October 2022

Polka Theatre’s festive season is coming up, with a tailored…

Read more

Polka Family Festive Season 2022/23

20th October 2022

Polka returns with a Christmas season tailored for younger audiences…

Read more

Announcing a Change at Polka

19th October 2022

We are sad to announce that Peter…

Read more

Polka Wins at Merton Best Business Awards 2022

19th October 2022

We are delighted to have won and…

Read more

Polka Appoints New Chair Of Trustees

23rd September 2022

 

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dominic…

Read more

Polka to Offer Free Mental Health Workshop Films for Teachers

16th September 2022

With the upcoming Youth Mental Health Day on 22 September,…

Read more

Polka Hits Target of 4,000 Free Tickets to Schools

8th July 2022

Polka has hit its target to give away…

Read more

How the Pirate, the Princess and the Platypus came to be

15th June 2022

We sat down with Richard Hurst and Daniel…

Read more

Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation joins Curtain Up! supporters

30th May 2022

Curtain Up! is our established free ticket scheme enabling 2,000…

Read more

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2022

13th May 2022

Polka is proud to celebrate the 11th Global Accessibility Awareness…

Read more

School children need live theatre in their lives

4th April 2022

Every child should see brilliant theatre! We want them…

Read more

Plastic Drastic Fantastic – Q&A with Suba Subramaniam

18th March 2022

Plastic Drastic Fantastic is a new production co-produced…

Read more

Relaxed Performances at Polka… find out more

24th November 2021

Polka was one of the first theatres in the…

Read more

Q&A with Hannah Quigley

20th August 2021

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your…

Read more
Polka Theatre exterior

The Big Re-opening

12th August 2021

 

What does it take to reopen…

Read more

Q&A with Ruchika Jain

3rd August 2021

Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, Polka Theatre’s…

Read more

Celebrating Young Creatives with Write Here, Write Now

23rd July 2021

This week, some very special guests including David Walliams, Joanna…

Read more

Asking for help during Covid

28th May 2021

Fundraising to complete Polka’s much-anticipated building redevelopment, during covid, has…

Read more
A photograph of the front of the new Polka building showing a bright Polka Theatre sign

To Theatre or not to Theatre?

27th April 2021

Last month our big new sign went up on the…

Read more
actress in a colourful dress and a lion headress

To be children again

10th March 2021

Throughout this pandemic, Polka has prioritised supporting children’s mental health…

Read more
Polka's newly refurbished box office with yellow and orange walls

Redevelopment Article in Time and Leisure Magazine

4th March 2021

Redevelopment Article in Time and Leisure Magazine

WHERE…
Read more

Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB

Box office 020 8543 4888

[email protected]

Useful Links

  • About Polka
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Jobs/Volunteering
  • Hire Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Child Protection Policy
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Social Media Community Guidelines
  • Offers T&C’s
  • @polkatheatre
Sign up Donate Now

Be the first to hear

about Polka's monthly news & competitions - for free!

Let us know if you have a particular interest in:

© Polka Theatre 2004 - 2025 | Polka is a registered charity no. 256979