My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Freedom Studios in Bradford Will Close its Doors

The company is set to close at the end of this current financial year.

By:
Freedom Studios in Bradford Will Close its Doors

Freedom Studios, located in Bradford, UK, has announced that it will close its doors. A statement posted to the company's website from the board of trustees cites financial reasons for the closing.

According to the statement, in 2023, the charity lost its place on the Arts Council England National Portfolio, and managed to raise new funds to continue to successfully deliver its programmes. However, Freedom Studios struggled to secure new funding.

The company is set to close at the end of this current financial year.

Read the full statement below:

With great sadness, the board of trustees announces the closure of Freedom Studios.

Freedom Studios was established in 2007 as a new writing theatre company based in Bradford and became known for celebrating the voices of South Asian and ethnically diverse people, young people and working class communities. 

In 2023, the charity lost its place on the Arts Council England National Portfolio, negatively impacting its finances. Despite this challenge, the charity managed to raise new funds to continue to successfully deliver impactful programmes including Bradford Voices. However, Freedom Studios struggled to secure new funding in this precarious climate, threatening its solvency. The trustees have taken the extremely difficult decision to begin winding down the charity in an orderly fashion. It is anticipated this work will continue until the end of the current financial year. 

Our original mission to pioneer the voice of our communities through plays, new writing and co-creation remains as important as ever. We leave a hole in the sector which sadly lacks new writing and talent development opportunities, and hope there is the opportunity for others to take up this space in our stead. 

We would like to thank each of our creatives, participants, staff and funders for being part of the Freedom Studios story over the years.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Off-Broadway Play - Top 3
1. A Christmas Carol (Thorne Adaptation) - PAC NYC
7.8% of votes
2. Prince F****t - Playwrights Horizons
6% of votes
3. Andre De Shields is Tartuffe - House of the Redeemer
4.6% of votes

Don't Miss a UK Regional News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


Count Arthur Strong - And It’s Goodnight From Me! in UK Regional Count Arthur Strong - And It’s Goodnight From Me!
King's Hall (4/21-4/21)
St Cecilia Orchestra 'Music for a Summer's Evening' in UK Regional St Cecilia Orchestra 'Music for a Summer's Evening'
Holy Trinity Church (6/13-6/13)
Mohanlal Live In Dublin, Beyond the Screen in UK Regional Mohanlal Live In Dublin, Beyond the Screen
The Old Bridge Inn (6/28-6/28)
AGNOSTIC FRONT x D.R.I. at The Underworld - London in UK Regional AGNOSTIC FRONT x D.R.I. at The Underworld - London
The Underworld (7/10-7/10)
Thursday Comedy Club London | Covent Garden, May 2026 in UK Regional Thursday Comedy Club London | Covent Garden, May 2026
Comedy Carnival Covent Garden (5/28-5/28)
G4 Christmas 2026 - Rochester Cathedral in UK Regional G4 Christmas 2026 - Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral (11/25-11/25)
The Go-Between  in UK Regional The Go-Between
Orford Town Hall (9/03-9/03)
G4 Christmas 2026 - Boston Stump in UK Regional G4 Christmas 2026 - Boston Stump
St. Botolph's Church (12/18-12/18)
BULLETS AND OCTANE at The Black Heart - London in UK Regional BULLETS AND OCTANE at The Black Heart - London
The Black Heart (6/02-6/02)
It Comes in Waves  in UK Regional It Comes in Waves
University of East Anglia, Drama Studio (6/25-6/25)