Compass Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Compass Theatre is a 158 seat theatre
in Ickenham
, in, and owned by, the London Borough of Hillingdon
.
Middlesex County Council
bought Ickenham Hall
and its grounds in 1948 in order to convert it into a youth centre. In 1968 a theatre was built behind the hall, later named the Compass Theatre by the Theatre Director John Sherratt. The two buildings were connected by a new building in 1976.
The theatre was refurbished in 1990 and reopened by HRH Prince Edward
.
The theatre predominantly receives hires by local amateur dramatic groups, as well as films, professional shows for children and other arts activities. It also hosts 360 Youth Theatre, the Hillingdon Music Service and the administration of Dance Challenge.
Regularly appearing groups include Argosy Players, Ruislip Dramatic Society, Hillingdon Musical Society, Players 2, Pastiche Musical Theatre and Purple Theatre, as well as professional companies Big Wooden Horse Theatre and Tall Stories.
Until 2009, Tall Stories, producers of The Gruffalo, were a theatre company in residence.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
in Ickenham
Ickenham
Ickenham is a suburban area centred on an old village in Greater London, part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.While no major historical events have taken place in Ickenham, settlements dating back to the Roman occupation of Britain have been discovered during archaeological surveys, and the...
, in, and owned by, the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
.
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex from 1889 to 1965.The county council was created by the Local Government Act 1888, which also removed the most populous part of the county to constitute the County of London...
bought Ickenham Hall
Ickenham Hall
Ickenham Hall is a Grade II Listed Georgian mansion, located in the grounds of the Compass Theatre, Glebe Avenue, Ickenham, and provides office space and hire-able rooms to local organisations....
and its grounds in 1948 in order to convert it into a youth centre. In 1968 a theatre was built behind the hall, later named the Compass Theatre by the Theatre Director John Sherratt. The two buildings were connected by a new building in 1976.
The theatre was refurbished in 1990 and reopened by HRH Prince Edward
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
.
The theatre predominantly receives hires by local amateur dramatic groups, as well as films, professional shows for children and other arts activities. It also hosts 360 Youth Theatre, the Hillingdon Music Service and the administration of Dance Challenge.
Regularly appearing groups include Argosy Players, Ruislip Dramatic Society, Hillingdon Musical Society, Players 2, Pastiche Musical Theatre and Purple Theatre, as well as professional companies Big Wooden Horse Theatre and Tall Stories.
Until 2009, Tall Stories, producers of The Gruffalo, were a theatre company in residence.