It was opened in 1971 and its main venue is known for its thrust stage. It has a 980 seat auditorium. The building also contains the 400 seat Crucible Studio venue.
As well as theatrical performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker, the Embassy World Snooker Championship. The tournament has been played annually in the Crucible since 1977. It has also hosted championships of other indoor sports, such as table tennis and squash.