Churchill Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Churchill Theatre in Bromley
, south east London
was built by the London Borough of Bromley
to designs by its borough architect's department.
It is carefully integrated into the central library complex overlooking Church House Gardens and Library Gardens. The slope of the site has been cleverly used; the auditorium
is essentially below ground level and entered by descending staircases from the foyer.
The theatre was opened on 19 July 1977 by HRH Prince of Wales
, and seats 785. It is now run on a contract currently held by the Ambassador Theatre Group
and is successful commercially, acting as both a receiving
and producing house
, with many of its own productions transferring to the West End
or touring nationally. An example, being recent tours of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
. It was also the home of the first two series' of The Brian Conley Show
before moving to The London Studios
, and there is an annual pantomime
season.
The Churchill is an example of a repertory theatre built in the style of European opera houses, with a large stage and sub-stage workshops. It was built on the side of a hill which disguises the number and size of the lower levels and gives the impression that it is smaller than it actually is.
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, south east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
was built by the London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
to designs by its borough architect's department.
It is carefully integrated into the central library complex overlooking Church House Gardens and Library Gardens. The slope of the site has been cleverly used; the auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
is essentially below ground level and entered by descending staircases from the foyer.
The theatre was opened on 19 July 1977 by HRH Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, and seats 785. It is now run on a contract currently held by the Ambassador Theatre Group
Ambassador Theatre Group
The Ambassador Theatre Group is an independent operator of theatres in the United Kingdom. Formed in 1992, by Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire,OBE, it acquired the Live Nation theatre group in November 2009.-List of theatres:...
and is successful commercially, acting as both a receiving
Receiving house
A receiving house is a theatre which does not produce its own repertoire but instead receives touring theatre companies, usually for a brief period such as three nights or a full week...
and producing house
Producing house
A producing house is a theatre which produces its own shows in-house. Theaters which do not produce their own material are known as receiving houses....
, with many of its own productions transferring to the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
or touring nationally. An example, being recent tours of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
. It was also the home of the first two series' of The Brian Conley Show
The Brian Conley Show
The Brian Conley Show was a comedy variety show starring Brian Conley, consisting of comedy sketches, and music. The show was commissioned following Conley's last successful comedy series, Brian Conley: This Way Up...
before moving to The London Studios
The London Studios
The London Studios is a television studio complex which is owned by London Weekend Television and has been home to the London Weekend ITV provider since 1972...
, and there is an annual pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
season.
The Churchill is an example of a repertory theatre built in the style of European opera houses, with a large stage and sub-stage workshops. It was built on the side of a hill which disguises the number and size of the lower levels and gives the impression that it is smaller than it actually is.