Milton Keynes Theatre opened on 4 October 1999, 25 years after the campaign for a new theatre first started and has placed Milton Keynes firmly on the country's cultural map.

Designed by architects Blonski-Heard, the theatre design employed the latest state-of-the-art building techniques, using some of the most technically advanced equipment available. The auditorium has been carefully designed to accommodate various shows: the ceiling can be lowered or raised depending on the scale of the production. The seating can also be moved around within the auditorium to vary the capacity from between 900 and 1,400. Consequently the theatre accommodates a wide range of productions, from large-scale musicals, to smaller, more intimate drama.

The programme includes a variety of large and small West End productions and a spectacular Christmas pantomime, touring opera and ballet, as well as touring drama.