Martyn's Law for amateur and community theatres

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is not in force yet. The SIA expects it to come into force in spring 2027 and will confirm the date. Here is how it applies to an amateur theatre: how to count your capacity, which tier you fall into, and what has to be in place.

Counting capacity

The figure that decides the tier is the greatest number of people it is reasonable to expect to be present at the same time, from time to time, including staff. For an amateur theatre that means the auditorium seating plus the bar, foyer and backstage at a full house, counted together. Figures vary a lot between amateur and community theatres, so work out your own. Below 200 the Act does not apply. 200 to 799 is standard tier. 800 and over is enhanced tier.

Which tier

A theatre where 200 or more people can reasonably be expected at once, counting audience, cast, crew and front of house, is standard tier. A house where 800 or more can be expected is enhanced tier.

What a standard tier amateur theatre must have

Once the Act is in force, notify the SIA of the premises and the responsible person through the SIA's online portal. Anyone already responsible on the start date has three months. Have public protection procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable, for four situations: evacuation (getting people out), invacuation (bringing people in and keeping them inside), lockdown (securing the premises) and communication (telling people what to do). Staff who have a role in them need to know what it is. No equipment, no searches and no security staff are required at this tier. The SIA can impose a penalty of up to £10,000, and up to £500 a day if a compliance notice is not met.

What that looks like in an amateur theatre

A theatre has a front of house team of volunteers who change every production, so the procedures need to work as part of the pre-show briefing. The pack's roles table lets you give each role to the jobs theatres already have: front of house manager, ushers by door, stage manager for backstage and cast.

Invacuation, keeping people inside and away from windows, is often the procedure theatres lack. The pack's invacuation section asks you to name the safest space, which may be the auditorium, and to write the words staff and whoever is on stage will use, including how the show is stopped.

The licensed capacity or the seat count is the usual starting point, but the test is the number you can reasonably expect, staff included. The pack's capacity assessment records the figure with the licence and box office records as evidence, and notes the difference between seated and standing events if the venue does both.