• Fareham Live Celebrates Landmark First Year with 160,000 Tickets Sold
• New Venue Director, Sheena Hulme, joins to lead the venue into an exciting new chapter

24 September 2025

On the eve of Fareham Live’s first anniversary, the award-winning venue is delighted to introduce its new Venue Director, Sheena Hulme.

Bringing a wealth of experience in venue management and cultural programming, Sheena will guide Fareham Live into its next chapter, strengthening its role as both a cultural landmark and a community hub. With over 25 years in arts management, Sheena Hulme is now Venue Director at Fareham Live. Previously Interim CEO at New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, she’s led teams at London 2012, iconic West End venues, and regional theatres. Passionate about community, Sheena also serves as a state secondary school governor.

Sheena Hulme, Venue Director, said:
“Fareham Live has achieved incredible things in its very first year — from hosting world-class performers to engaging thousands of people in community projects and creative learning. Selling 160,000 tickets in such a short time shows the huge appetite for culture and live entertainment in the region. I’m excited to build on this fantastic foundation and ensure Fareham Live continues to thrive as both a cultural landmark and a welcoming space for the whole community.”

Sheena Hulme

Since opening its doors in September 2024, Fareham Live – operated by Trafalgar Theatres, the venue division of global live entertainment company Trafalgar Entertainment – has quickly established itself as a vibrant hub of entertainment, culture, and community.

Executive Member for Leisure and Community, Cllr Mrs Connie Hockley, said: “I find it hard to believe that Fareham Live has already been open for a year, but what a year it has been. The ticket sales alone provide tangible evidence that the venue is drawing people into Fareham, and it will continue to play a vital role in the Council’s plans for the regeneration of Fareham town centre. I would like to thank Trafalgar Theatres for their tireless hard work in making Fareham Live the success that it is and encourage those who have yet to take in a show, or sample some of the café’s delights, to come and make a visit.”

The venue launched in style with The Prat Pack — featuring Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley, Shane Richie and Joe Pasquale – followed by a sold-out run of The Rocky Horror Show. From that moment, the stage has rarely been empty.

Fareham Live marked its official opening with a royal visit from Prince Edward, an occasion that highlighted the venue’s importance within the local community. Over the past year, audiences have enjoyed an extraordinary range of performances — from household comedy names such as Jimmy Carr to children’s favourites like Iggle Piggle — with many more exciting shows already programmed for the months ahead.

In its first year, Fareham Live also delivered a hugely successful pantomime, Cinderella, starring AJ and Curtis Pritchard alongside Paul Burling, which was nominated for a UK Pantomime Award. The production drew thousands of theatregoers and set the stage for future seasonal favourites, with Burling returning this year as French Frank in Beauty and the Beast.

In July, Fareham Live were awarded the Regeneration Project of the Year at the South Coast Property Awards. Judges praised the project as a “brave, bold and significant expenditure with the ultimate aim of providing both community benefit and kick-starting urban regeneration in an existing town centre.”

Councillor Simon Martin, Leader of Fareham Borough Council, expressed his delight: “I’m thrilled that one of the key architectural firms behind Fareham Live has received this recognition. It’s particularly rewarding to see the judges acknowledge the extensive work that went into creating a true community venue. Fareham Live has already had a transformative impact on our town centre, and I’m pleased to see the architects who helped bring it to life honoured in this way.”

Robyn Hayes, the venue’s Events Manager has done a sterling job of curating and delivering events, hosting everything from the Mayor Making ceremony and the Mayor’s Ball — complete with silver service dining — to regular themed events such as Tropicana Nights and lively dinner dances. These events have showcased the flexibility of the 800-seat auditorium, transforming it from a traditional theatre into a buzzing party space where audiences dance late into the night.

Fareham Live has also invested heavily in its creative learning programme, led by Creative Learning Manager Jo Bennington. August saw the launch of the venue’s first Summer Youth Project, which brought together 45 local young performers to stage a vibrant production of We Will Rock You — rehearsed and performed in just five days. The project received rave reviews, inspiring plans to make it an annual tradition. Alongside this, Fareham Live runs a variety of community programmes, including street dance classes, drama workshops, and inclusive sessions designed for adults with disabilities.

The venue isn’t only about performances. Fareham Live offers spaces for the community to hire, providing a flexible home for events of all kinds. Its vibrant café has also become a local favourite, serving fresh cakes, hot food, and barista-style coffee. With a beautiful outdoor area, the café offers a welcoming space to relax — and it’s dog friendly too, even offering dog-friendly ice cream for four-legged visitors.

With such a successful first year behind it, Fareham Live has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of culture, creativity, and entertainment for Fareham and the wider region — with plenty more still to come.