The Old Nick Theatre

The Old Nick Theatre The Old Nick is a Victorian building which served as Gainsborough's original Police Station.

LOTS OF LOVELY CRAFT STALLS HERE AT 'THE OLD NICK THEATRE' CRAFT FAIR TODAY 10AM-3PM. 🎄🎄🎄🎄
29/11/2025

LOTS OF LOVELY CRAFT STALLS HERE AT 'THE OLD NICK THEATRE' CRAFT FAIR TODAY 10AM-3PM. 🎄🎄🎄🎄

DONT FORGET ITS OUR CRAFT FAIR TODAY AT 'THE OLD NICK THEATRE' DONT LET A LITTLE RAIN PUT YOU OFF. LOTS OF LOCAL STALLS ...
29/11/2025

DONT FORGET ITS OUR CRAFT FAIR TODAY AT 'THE OLD NICK THEATRE' DONT LET A LITTLE RAIN PUT YOU OFF. LOTS OF LOCAL STALLS AND REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE. 🎄🎄🎄

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY... LOTS OF STALLS, TOMBOLA, LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AND FREE ENTRY. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
18/11/2025

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY... LOTS OF STALLS, TOMBOLA, LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AND FREE ENTRY. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

ONLY A FEW WEEKS TO GO! ALL TABLES ARE BOOKED. FREE ENTRY WITH LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE. SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 10A...
02/11/2025

ONLY A FEW WEEKS TO GO! ALL TABLES ARE BOOKED. FREE ENTRY WITH LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE. SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 10AM-3PM.

23/10/2025

EXCITING NEWS!
This Sunday 26th October at 2pm at The Old Nick Theatre will be the first full read through of Workhouse Players next production
'A Pigeon Called Hat' (a radio play).

It's written by some obscure playwright but surprisingly good!

Seriously It's a wonderful piece of theatre about an 8 year old boy and the families who inhabit and influence his world and his life. I am so excited and proud to have been asked to direct it. BUT I do need a cast.

Please come along on Sunday, and be part of this story right from the start xx
Sheila Jennings

ITS NEARLY THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN. WE ARE LOOKING FOR STALLHOLDERS FOR OUR CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR. IF YOU ARE INTERES...
30/09/2025

ITS NEARLY THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN. WE ARE LOOKING FOR STALLHOLDERS FOR OUR CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED THEN PLEASE GET INTOUCH. 🎄🎄

26/09/2025

🔑✨ Looking for something a little different on your day out? Step inside The Old Nick Theatre & Police Museum in Gainsborough – one of the town’s most fascinating hidden gems.

Once a Victorian police station and magistrates’ court 👮‍♀️, today it’s a unique mix of:

🎭 Live theatre performances in an intimate, atmospheric setting
🏛️ Heritage museum spaces where you can explore original cells, courtrooms, and stories of the past
👻 A venue full of character, history… and maybe a spooky tale or two!

Perfect for history lovers, theatre fans, or anyone curious about Gainsborough’s heritage.

Plan your visit and discover why the Old Nick is unlike anywhere else.

18/09/2025

Could you be our next stage star...?

Workhouse Players 2025 Christmas Production 'A Munching Christmas' is in rehearsals for The Old Nick Theatre 2nd - 6th December.

A Munching Christmas, the new comedy romp from our own Max Jones The resident amdram group, the Much Munching Players are trying to save their village hall by throwing a Christmas Play together but, with no special talents, (apart from that time Sadie went on in just her pants) and no discernable acting ability among them, coupled with a dodgy 'updated' A Christmas Carol script that now includes references to Only Fans, TikTok, transgender issues, 'broken Britain' and Brexit, and feckless director Brandon De Witt, things aren't looking good....

We need the feckless director...if you think you have what it takes to be our Brandon De Witt come along, we are holding auditions on Monday evenings from 6pm at The Old Nick Theatre Gainsborough

For more information message us through our page or contact Gordon Craig

12/09/2025
05/09/2025
01/09/2025

🔎As part of Gainsborough WordFest, join crime writer Anne Wedgwood in the perfect setting of the The Old Nick Theatre on September 13th – you might even see a police officer from the past!

Like all WordFest events, this is completely free, but you do need to book (link below).

So what's it about? Come along to hear acclaimed crime writer Anne Wedgwood talk about the craft of writing the perfect 'tale with a twist'. Anne takes inspiration from her home town of Beverley, East Yorkshire to create stories about feisty, independent-minded women who are usually up to no good!

Taking place on Saturday, September 13 · 2 - 3:30pm. Book your free place here (it's easy to do)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/anne-wedgwood-crime-writer-talk-wordfest-event-tickets-1375996084329

Gainsborough WordFest is a feast for book lovers. Happening SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, with over 20 magical events taking place across the town, and everything is free.

For readers and budding writers we have creative writing workshops and crime writer talks.

And the beating heart of the event is the wonderful Literature Village in the Market Place: meet published authors, gather inspiration, and perhaps even pick up a pen or pencil yourself. With live accordion music, brass rubbings and a chance to ‘bag a free book’ and much, much more.

For families we have children’s storytelling, art and craft activities, Dungeons & Dragons workshops, I-Spy trails and Planet Fun at the library.

For fans of history and heritage lovers there’s a guided local history walk, two brilliant heritage exhibitions and a rare chance to tour the tower at All Saints Church.

The finale of the event is a performance of four plays performed in one night at the Old Nick Theatre.

But that’s not all, Gainsborough WordFest takes place alongside the September Farmers’ & Craft Market, so you can also browse the best in fresh, local, homemade and handmade produce from a variety of traders.

Saturday 13th September in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. With two hours of free parking in all council-owned car parks.

Full details here https://discovergainsborough.com/wordfest/

01/09/2025

Workhouse Players new Max Jones comedy Christmas Play, 'A Munching Christmas' has started in rehearsals and we are looking for new talent to join our cast of 11 at The Old Nick Theatre to be part of this festive treat.

As well as Sandra the loyal, no nonsense friend with a sharp tongue everybody would like on their side, we are also looking for Malcolm, the unscrupulous property developer with the morals of a thing with very low morals...if we were doing a pantomime he would get boos and hisses 🙂

If you are interested in joining us we would love to hear from you, drop us a message on the page or pop along to one of our open rehearsal nights at The Old Nick Theatre Gainsborough Mondays from 6pm Tuesdays from 7pm

Address

31 Spring Gardens
Gainsborough
DN212AY

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THE OLD NICK THEATRE AND POLICE MUSEUM

The Old Nick was the original police station in Gainsborough. It is an Italianate-style Grade II building at the junction of Spring Gardens and Cross Street - just past the vehicular access to Marshall's Yard. Back in 1859 land on this site was sold to build a Magistrates' Court and Police Station.

These buildings served their purpose until 1972 when the new police station on Morton Terrace was built followed by the new Magistrates' Court on Church Street in 1978. Mr Douglas Parkinson purchased both of the old buildings in 1978 for £3,250 and in 1980 he told the members of the Gainsborough Theatre Group that they could use the premises for rehearsals at a peppercorn rent.

When Mr Parkinson died in 1992 he bequeathed the property to the Gainsborough Theatre Group and then the physical hard work began for them all. Piles of rubbish had to be cleared from many of the inside rooms, the outside stores and around the building itself in order to make it all presentable. This took a lot of time, hard work, sweat and tears for the dedicated members of the group.

The Courtroom was converted into a theatre, where many successful productions have been staged over the years. The court offices now host a bar and tearoom for the use of theatre patrons and visitors to the building. Many of the original features of the court and its chambers can still be seen.