Live Theatre & Film

The Monadnock Region takes its stages seriously. In a part of the country better known for mountains than marquees, the area supports a professional summer theatre of real reputation, lively community playhouses, and historic cinemas that keep film-going a communal event.

A Storied Summer Playhouse

The region’s theatrical heart is its long-running professional summer playhouse, which for decades has drawn accomplished actors and directors to a barn theatre in the Peterborough hills. Its summer seasons of classics and new work have made it a fixture of the New England theatre calendar and a major reason culture lovers plan visits around the warm months. You can learn more through the Peterborough Players, whose productions have anchored the region’s summers for generations.

Community Stages

Beyond the marquee company, community theatre thrives across the region’s towns. Volunteer casts stage musicals, dramas, and holiday productions in town halls and school auditoriums, keeping live performance woven into local life and giving residents of every age a place on stage. The connection between this grassroots theatre and the region’s deep dramatic heritage — this is, after all, the land of Our Town — is impossible to miss.

Theatre for Young Audiences

The next generation is well served too. Youth theatre programs, summer drama camps, and school productions give children a first taste of the stage, and family-oriented shows fill the calendar around the holidays. For many local families, an annual production is as much a part of the season as the first snow — and it is how the region keeps renewing the tradition that made it famous.

The Silver Screen

Historic village cinemas and nonprofit film societies keep movie-going alive as a shared experience. Rather than an anonymous multiplex, film here often means a single restored screen, a knowledgeable audience, and a program that mixes new releases with classics, documentaries, and independent film. Several venues double as performance spaces, hosting live music and talks between screenings, and film festivals bring filmmakers and audiences together each year.

Making an Evening of It

A night at the theatre pairs naturally with the rest of the region’s arts and entertainment. Dinner in a village restaurant, a walk on a quiet Main Street, and a performance in an intimate house make for an evening that feels a world away from big-city entertainment — and often features talent every bit as accomplished.

Plan Ahead

Summer performances and popular film events sell out, so booking in advance is wise, particularly on weekends and during foliage season. Use our visitor overview to line up lodging and the rest of your itinerary around the show.