# Martyn’s Law for theatres and cinemas > Theatres, cinemas and music venues need to count their expected busiest periods, including staff. Check your tier and prepare your next steps. Theatres, cinemas, nightclubs and live music venues can qualify under the entertainment and leisure use. Subject to the other premises tests, 200–799 people reasonably expected together means standard tier, while 800 or more means enhanced tier. Your count includes staff and volunteers, not just ticket holders. The aim of the law is that front-of-house and backstage teams would know how to help audiences to safety if there were ever an attack during a performance. ## At a glance - **Likely tier**: Depends on expected peak numbers across the relevant premises. - **Counting**: Consider overlapping performances, screens and predictable busy nights. - **Events**: Enhanced-tier premises do not notify each event individually. - **When**: Expected in spring 2027; no exact commencement date is set. ## Check the premises before the programme The premises must include a building, be wholly or mainly used for a qualifying activity, reasonably expect 200 or more people together from time to time, and not be excluded. Ticketed or members-only access does not automatically take the venue outside scope. Establish whether you are assessing one venue, a group of buildings or separately controlled premises within a larger site. A theatre inside a wider complex may need its own assessment. Qualifying premises within larger premises can also have co-ordination duties. [Check your tier](https://wardcote.co.uk/check-your-tier) · [Understand premises and responsibility](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/responsible-person) ## Count the busiest expected overlap For a cinema, examine overlapping screenings rather than one screen’s seating alone. For a theatre, consider audience members together with staff and volunteers. For a nightclub or music venue, review predictable busy nights and the people working in the qualifying use areas. Fixed seating, tickets, historic attendance and safe occupancy are possible methods. Add employees, contractors and volunteers if your chosen figure excludes them. Keep evidence of the greatest reasonably expected number at once, rather than using annual admissions or an average night. - Check performance and screening schedules for overlaps. - Include front-of-house, technical and other relevant staff. - Record how standing areas and additional rooms affect the number. [Choose a counting method](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/counting-people) ## Distinguish regular peaks from genuine one-offs The guidance gives a nightclub example where five or six large nights a year can make 800 or more people reasonably expected from time to time. A venue does not remain standard tier just because most nights are quieter. A genuine one-off at standard-tier or out-of-scope premises may instead qualify under the event rules. Every criterion must be met, including public access, the attendance threshold, relevant entry checks and no exclusion. A performance at enhanced-tier premises is covered through the premises duties and does not need individual event notification. [Check qualifying events](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/events) · [Read the enhanced-tier guide](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/enhanced-tier) ## Prepare procedures for audiences and working teams Standard-tier procedures cover evacuation, moving people to a safer place inside, preventing entry or exit, and communication when terrorism is suspected. They must be appropriate so far as reasonably practicable. Staff with roles must understand them and have the tools to act. Consider how instructions would reach an auditorium during a performance, a cinema screen during a film or a loud dance floor. Think about touring crews, casual staff and volunteer ushers. Agree who can interrupt activity and operate relevant doors or communication systems. Standard tier does not require a formal risk assessment or a written plan. Recording procedures is recommended, as are practice and periodic review. Evacuation arrangements should account for a different situation from a fire, rather than assume the same assembly point. [Explore the four procedures](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/public-protection-procedures) ## Understand what enhanced tier adds Enhanced tier adds assessed public protection measures covering monitoring, movement of people, physical safety and security, and security of information. The measures must be appropriate so far as reasonably practicable and kept under review. A written document must describe procedures and measures and assess how they reduce vulnerability and the risk of physical harm. An organisation must also designate a senior individual in management or control. This role should not simply be assigned to junior staff. Review arrangements when attendance, layout or use changes. For a venue with visiting productions or promoters, clarify control and co-operation arrangements alongside the practical show briefing. [Understand assessment and measures](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/risk-assessment) · [Enhanced tier support](https://wardcote.co.uk/enhanced-tier-assessment) ## Begin with your programme and attendance evidence Core duties are not yet enforceable. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, with the date still unconfirmed. Compare your programme with attendance evidence and identify the organisation responsible before preparing notification. The law does not require buying software or specialist services. Wardcote supports standard-tier procedures, briefings, records and notification preparation. For enhanced-tier venues and qualifying events, Wardcote arranges support from an experienced team it works with. [Prepare SIA notification details](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/sia-notification) · [Wardcote’s standard-tier software](https://wardcote.co.uk/pricing) ## Questions ### Do cinema staff count alongside the audience? Yes. Count employees, contractors and volunteers in the qualifying use areas, adding them if your seating or ticket method excludes them. ### Should we count each cinema screen separately? For one cinema premises, consider people across its screens at the same time. Check premises boundaries and control arrangements where spaces are separately operated. ### Can a nightclub be enhanced tier with only a few large nights? Yes, if 800 or more people are reasonably expected from time to time. The guidance gives an example involving five or six large nights a year. ### Does an enhanced-tier theatre notify every production? No. Enhanced-tier premises do not need to notify individual events held there. ## Sources - [Act: premises, events and enhanced duties](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/10/enacted) - [Home Office statutory guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) - [Home Office myth buster](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69281f35b3b9afff34e960f0/martyns-law-mythbuster.pdf) - [SIA: implementation and regulator role](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-martyns-law-and-the-sias-role-as-regulator) ## Related - [Martyn’s Law enhanced tier: requirements](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/enhanced-tier) - [Martyn’s Law crowd management and event security](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/events) - [How to count people for Martyn’s Law](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/counting-people) - [The four public protection procedures](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/public-protection-procedures) --- Source: https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/theatres-and-cinemas · Last reviewed 2026-10-16 · Wardcote, venue and event security. General guidance, not legal advice.