I feel theaters and entertainment buildings could and should have more in-depth mechanics.
At present, the theater gives a passive boost to entertainment in a town. This is despite the fact that theaters require actors and at present, there are no professions related to the theater at all. It functions in spite of all logic and is out of the step with the rest of the game’s depth. It has no integration with the town’s economy and workforce.
A pub requires a publican. A temple requires a priest. A market requires a grocer. In fact, almost all buildings in the game require people to make them function. Why is the theater any different?
We ought to have an Actor profession. Theaters should require a minimum number of them in order to be able to stage plays and provide the theater’s entertainment to the area. Perhaps 2 at a minimum, and 10 at a maximum per theater. Perhaps the theater entertainment bonus scales with how many actors a theater houses. Actors could be seen engaging in theater kid behavior outside the theater.
If you wanted to get really detailed about it, theaters should have multiple attached professions (similar to barracks) that need to be filled in order to function . Actors, a Costumier, and a Playwright (needs basic education). But I understand that may be too much.
Theaters should require new luxury items in order to function. Costumes (from flax and hides, made by Costumier), and Theater Sets or Props (wood and flax, made by builders). This would open up new productions chains.
There could also be wandering minstrels who will visit your town periodically once you build a theater (similar to traders, and subject to positive economic conditions), who will set up shop at the theater and provide additional temporary boosts to town happiness and repute.
Theaters could also open up the possibility to train villagers in other creative professions dispersed throughout the town. Musicians, for example, could entertain at pubs (and quell the possibility of villager murder sprees, perhaps?). Or just let us directly recruit an in-house musician for the pub.
I feel like the farming, battle and spirituality mechanics of this game are nicely in-depth with lots of options to customize and try, but those complexities don’t extend to entertainment, education and family spheres. I hope the devs will consider doing so in future.