People's Light

General information

Now in its 39th season, People’s Light is one of Pennsylvania’s largest professional non-profit theatres and is known for its resident company of artists, eclectic mix of productions, and for innovative work with young people. We produce 7 – 9 plays per season, mixing world premieres, contemporary plays, and fresh approaches to classic texts. The theatre commissions and produces new work: of its 384 productions, over a third (150) have been world or regional premieres.

Arts Discovery, a suite of arts education programs, in part inspires and informs the production season in a reciprocal dance of influence and support. These programs further extend the theatre’s mission, for youth and adults, with school residencies, student matinees that bring students from 21 high schools to the theatre each year for free, a broad array of theatre arts classes for people from 7 to 70, and special projects inspired by the needs of our community that move the theatre outwards from its seven acre campus in Malvern to venues throughout the Delaware Valley.

People’s Light has always made its home in Chester County. In 1979 the Theatre moved to our current location in Malvern, which includes two black box theatres with 340 and 160 seats, respectively; offices; scenic shops; rehearsal halls, classrooms; a restored 18th century farmhouse where we house guest artists; and banquet facilities that can be rented for special events. People’s Light employs 70 full and permanent part-time artists and staff members and almost 200 guest artists. Its annual budget is $5.3 million and the total community served each year is 85,000.