About

Located in the heart of downtown Norwich, Connecticut, Chestnut Street Playhouse is a 67-seat black box theater housed in a historic Queen Anne-style firehouse at 24 Chestnut Street. Built as Central Fire Headquarters, the building served as a hub of the Norwich Fire Department before being transformed into a performing arts venue in 2000.

Today, Chestnut Street Playhouse continues the building’s tradition as a gathering place for the community, offering high-quality, affordable theater and a diverse range of performances, educational opportunities, and special events. Our mission is to use the power of storytelling to deepen understanding, strengthen community, and create space for voices that shape our shared history.

As we look toward the future, we are expanding opportunities for local artists, volunteers, audiences, students, and creative teams while fostering greater diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the Playhouse. Through thought-provoking productions, youth education, new works, community partnerships, and unique events, Chestnut Street Playhouse seeks to be more than a theater—it strives to be a Theater for the Community: a welcoming place where people can gather, learn, connect, and experience the transformative power of the performing arts.