Former names | Thorndike Theatre |
---|---|
Location | Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey |
Coordinates | 51°17′42″N 0°19′43″W / 51.295074°N 0.328706°W |
Type | Theatre |
Capacity | 495 + 3 wheelchairs |
Construction | |
Built | 1967–1969 |
Opened | 17 September 1969 |
Architect | Roderick Ham |
Website | |
www | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Thorndike Theatre |
Designated | 8 July 1988 |
Reference no. | 1028904 |
The Thorndike Theatre, now known as the Leatherhead Theatre, is a Grade II listed building in Leatherhead, Surrey, England. [1] Roderick Ham designed the theatre within the shell of the disused 1930s Crescent Cinema. Named after Dame Sybil Thorndike, the theatre was opened on 17 September 1969 by Princess Margaret. [2] [3]
The theatre closed in 1997 after the loss of public funding. A charitable trust was set up to operate it and the theatre re-opened as the Leatherhead Theatre in 2001, with seating reduced to 495 plus three wheelchair places. [4]
The Thorndike Theatre opened in 1969 as a replacement for the 300-seat Ace Cinema in Leatherhead High Street. The cinema had originally been built in 1890 as the Victoria Hall [5] and as performances became more popular, its size had become restrictive and there was a need for a new and better-equipped performing arts venue in the town. [6]
The Thorndike Theatre, in Church Street, was designed by Roderick Ham in the modernist style. [7] It was rebuilt from the former Crescent Cinema, which was originally constructed in 1939 and which was run by a local family until the 1960s. [8] [9] Although the exterior walls of the Crescent were retained, the interior, including the 526-seat auditorium and lobby, was built anew. [6] Named for the actor Sybil Thorndike, its construction was primarily paid for by private donations, with some additional funding from the Leatherhead Urban District Council and the Arts Council. [6] The building also included a studio theatre, the Casson Room, for smaller-scale performances including youth productions. The Thorndike Theatre was opened in September 1969 by Princess Margaret. [8] [10]
Although it was initially popular, the Thorndike Theatre regularly ran operating deficits. [6] Following several years of cuts in public subsidy, [6] it launched an appeal for £350,000 in February 1988, which was supported by the playwright, Alan Ayckbourn, actors, Prunella Scales and Timothy West, and the local MP, Kenneth Baker. [11] The theatre briefly closed in July 1990, [12] [13] but reopened three months later following a rescue bid led by the producer and businessman, Bill Kenwright. [14] It closed again in April 1997 with a total debt of almost £1.2 million. [6] [15] [16] A second reopening followed in October 1997, [17] [18] but closed just over a month later after the new operators, Screenworks, entered voluntary liquidation owing £400,000. [19] [20]
The theatre was Grade II-listed in July 1999. [21] It reopened in 2001 as a part-time theatre, [15] cinema, community space and meeting place for the evangelical group, Pioneer People. [7] [8] The annual Leatherhead Drama Festival, for amateur theatre groups, was launched at the theatre in 2004 and ran for 16 years. [22]
Former names | Thorndike Theatre |
---|---|
Location | Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey |
Coordinates | 51°17′42″N 0°19′43″W / 51.295074°N 0.328706°W |
Type | Theatre |
Capacity | 495 + 3 wheelchairs |
Construction | |
Built | 1967–1969 |
Opened | 17 September 1969 |
Architect | Roderick Ham |
Website | |
www | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Thorndike Theatre |
Designated | 8 July 1988 |
Reference no. | 1028904 |
The Thorndike Theatre, now known as the Leatherhead Theatre, is a Grade II listed building in Leatherhead, Surrey, England. [1] Roderick Ham designed the theatre within the shell of the disused 1930s Crescent Cinema. Named after Dame Sybil Thorndike, the theatre was opened on 17 September 1969 by Princess Margaret. [2] [3]
The theatre closed in 1997 after the loss of public funding. A charitable trust was set up to operate it and the theatre re-opened as the Leatherhead Theatre in 2001, with seating reduced to 495 plus three wheelchair places. [4]
The Thorndike Theatre opened in 1969 as a replacement for the 300-seat Ace Cinema in Leatherhead High Street. The cinema had originally been built in 1890 as the Victoria Hall [5] and as performances became more popular, its size had become restrictive and there was a need for a new and better-equipped performing arts venue in the town. [6]
The Thorndike Theatre, in Church Street, was designed by Roderick Ham in the modernist style. [7] It was rebuilt from the former Crescent Cinema, which was originally constructed in 1939 and which was run by a local family until the 1960s. [8] [9] Although the exterior walls of the Crescent were retained, the interior, including the 526-seat auditorium and lobby, was built anew. [6] Named for the actor Sybil Thorndike, its construction was primarily paid for by private donations, with some additional funding from the Leatherhead Urban District Council and the Arts Council. [6] The building also included a studio theatre, the Casson Room, for smaller-scale performances including youth productions. The Thorndike Theatre was opened in September 1969 by Princess Margaret. [8] [10]
Although it was initially popular, the Thorndike Theatre regularly ran operating deficits. [6] Following several years of cuts in public subsidy, [6] it launched an appeal for £350,000 in February 1988, which was supported by the playwright, Alan Ayckbourn, actors, Prunella Scales and Timothy West, and the local MP, Kenneth Baker. [11] The theatre briefly closed in July 1990, [12] [13] but reopened three months later following a rescue bid led by the producer and businessman, Bill Kenwright. [14] It closed again in April 1997 with a total debt of almost £1.2 million. [6] [15] [16] A second reopening followed in October 1997, [17] [18] but closed just over a month later after the new operators, Screenworks, entered voluntary liquidation owing £400,000. [19] [20]
The theatre was Grade II-listed in July 1999. [21] It reopened in 2001 as a part-time theatre, [15] cinema, community space and meeting place for the evangelical group, Pioneer People. [7] [8] The annual Leatherhead Drama Festival, for amateur theatre groups, was launched at the theatre in 2004 and ran for 16 years. [22]