180 Seat Theatre named in Honour of Wyllie Longmore at City Campus Manchester

The Manchester College, in partnership with its sister organisations UCEN Manchester and The Arden School of Theatre, recently celebrated the remarkable legacy of Wyllie Longmore, The Arden’s longest serving Head of School who sadly passed away in 2024, naming its state-of-the-art theatre at City Campus Manchester in his honour.

To mark the occasion, the College held a special event to pay tribute to Longmore’s enduring contributions where attendees were treated to a stellar program of performances by talented students from The Arden, The Manchester College, and some special guests.

"Tonight was about more than just celebrating the many milestones The Arden and The Manchester College have achieved since making City Campus Manchester our home. It was a recognition of our proud history and a tribute to a man who played a fundamental role in shaping The Arden’s identity," commented Rachel Curry, Principal and Deputy CEO

"We are immensely proud to now have The Longmore Theatre, named in honour of Wyllie Longmore, The Arden’s first-ever Head of School."

For over eleven years, Wyllie Longmore led The Arden with vision, passion, and an unwavering belief in the power of theatre. He nurtured talent, challenged perceptions, and instilled a deep sense of artistic integrity that continues to thrive within these walls today.

Born in Jamaica in 1940, Wyllie made Manchester his home and his stage. His illustrious career saw him perform at prestigious theatres across the UK, including the National Theatre and the Young Vic, as well as stages throughout the North West. His powerful performances in productions such as My Children! My Africa! and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom earned him Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards. He was also a familiar face on screen, appearing in Coronation Street and Love Actually.

Beyond his performances, Wyllie’s dedication to theatre saw him serve on the boards of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Contact Theatre, and HOME arts centre in Manchester. In 2016, he was named a fellow of Rose Bruford College in recognition of his contributions to the arts.

Curry added: "From now on, this space will be known as The Longmore Theatre—a place where creativity will flourish, new voices will emerge, and future generations of performers will continue to be inspired by Wyllie’s vision."

The Longmore Theatre is the centre piece of The Manchester College, UCEN Manchester, The Arden School of Theatre’s industry-standard facilities for Performing Arts and Creative Industries. With seats for 180 people the theatre is served by a large scene dock, a fully equipped machine workshop for set building and design, and a wardrobe area with a costume design and build workshop. 

In addition to The Longmore Theatre, City Campus Manchester is also home to five double-height multi-purpose rehearsal studios with semi-sprung floor suitable for practising various modes of dance and performance; a double-height performance assessment studio with semi-sprung floor and stunning views out over the city and a single ensemble room and a 1-2-1 singing room. A second studio theatre with access to all the associated facilities completes the performance space.

To explore some of these amazing facilities, book a place on our next Open Event.