The Lost Post Office
The Lost Post Office has now closed its doors for 2023.
Join us for The Lost Post Office, a magical mid-winter experience using theatre, puppets, play, music, story-telling and surprises.
It is a family theatre show suitable for children of all ages, families and the young at heart.
Audiences are invited to embark upon a tour of the Lost Post Office, greeted by a myriad of post office workers who busy themselves with sorting the items that are impossible to send in the post.
The Post Master General says 'The Lost Post Office, as you know, is the place where we sort the post that has proved impossible to deliver. Undeliverable items recently catalogued in our Warehouse include; Christmas 1996, Last Night's Very Exhausting Dream and A Big Hug from Poppy's Nan'
'Each year we throw open the doors of The Lost Post Office and invite curious and playful visitors of all ages to join us for a tour into every corner of The Lost Post Office. I must say I have noticed over the years that there are surprises at every turn. I was amazed to discover that the most inner workings of our gigantic facility seem to be entirely made of cardboard. Not even our staff have been into some of our areas for a while. Just between you and me, we often rely on our visitors to help us find our way to the end of the tour, so everyone is important - we're in these tours together!'
'This year there are several questions troubling me already that perhaps you can help with. Who knows what the Incredible Shrinking Machine does? What is it doing in The Lost Post Office Warehouse? What is a quark? Apparently, it's not just the noise a duck makes. And has anyone seen the cat?'
How long does the performance last?
A visit to The Lost Post Office lasts approximately 1 hour.
Where do I find The Lost Post Office?
The Lost Post Office can be found at B arts, 72 Hartshill Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 7RB
How do I get to you?
The number 25 bus stops right outside our building.
You can park on Vale Street Car Park or Aquinas Street Car Park or use on street parking in the streets behind our building.
Please do not park over the road at St Andrews Square this is for residents only. Please respect our neighbours.
What should I wear?
Please wrap up warmly for your visit and wear sensible shoes.
Will I have to join in?
Our tour is interactive which means people will talk directly to you, there is no obligation to join in with anything that happens during the performance at all. Our tour is immersive, which means you walk around the theatre set rather than sit and watch it in your seats. There are stewards at every performance and you can leave at any time.
Will there be a Makaton or signed performance and a relaxed performance?
Makaton and signed performance as well as relaxed performance dates to be announced.
Easy Read Visual Document 2023
Pre-book food before your show
You can add food on to your booking to enjoy before the show up to an hour before the show starts.
Hot meals are always vegetarian/vegan and include a sweet treat for after.
Drinks are not included.
Soft and alcoholic drinks as well as tasty extras are available to purchase on the night too.
You can still walk up on the day/night for food and drinks without pre-booking.
Merchandise
Our Lost Post Office merchandise stall will be open on the night to purchase Programmes and other Lost Post Office goodies.
Cafe opening times
The Bread in Common Cafe is open an hour before each shows for either pre-booked food and walk-ups.
We will also have drinks and sweet treats available from the cafe available to purchase before each show.
How can I contact you with any other queries?
Kath Stanway - kath.stanway@b-arts.org.uk or text/call 07544814720
If you have any accessibility needs or want to ask any questions please get in touch.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders and partners - Arts Council England, The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Staffordshire University.
Information on how to book schools shows has now been released.
The Lost Post Office is a magical mid-winter experience using theatre, puppets, play, music, story-telling and surprises.
It is a family theatre show suitable for children of all ages, families and the young at heart.
Audiences are invited to embark upon a tour of the Lost Post Office, greeted by a myriad of post office workers who busy themselves with sorting the items that are impossible to send in the post.
In 2022, Kath, Lost Post Office Tour Leader, said, “The Lost Post Office is open for tours as usual this year. But, there seems to be quite a lot of water. The Lost Post Office might be flooding. We won’t let that stop us- if everyone wears wellies and raincoats and brollies- I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
It also seemed like the workers weren’t meeting their targets and The Lost Post Office was under threat of being sold. And where was The Post Master General? It seemed that they’re the only one who could help. In 2022, to move forward we had to take the public back. We had to uncover what was going on by finding The Lost, Lost Post Office.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders and partners - Arts Council England, The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Staffordshire University.
The Lost Post Office 2022 event poster, created by B arts associate artist Rebecca Kremer.
Photographs of The Lost Post Office 2022 in rehearsal are available to view below, by Julieann Daly.
Photographs of The Lost Post Office 2022 are available to view below, taken by Natalie Willatt.
Photographs of The Lost Post Office 2021 are available to view below, taken by Natalie Willatt.
Post received so far…
We love hearing from you!
The Lost Post Office sorting office staff are always excited to receive post. If you’d like to send a letter, you can address it to:
The Lost Post Office Team, 72 Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7RB
Take a look at some of the letters we have received so far, from The Willows Primary School in Penkhull. Thank you for your letters!
