Middlesbrough Theatre
Encyclopedia
Middlesbrough Theatre was opened by Sir John Gielgud
in 1957 and was one of the first new theatres built in England
after the Second World War. It is at the Avenue, Middlesbrough
, North Yorkshire
.
in the
1920s and its conversion to the Gaumont cinema
in the 1920s.
In response, representatives from over forty dramatic societies met in 1923 to consider
forming a company to keep live theatre active in the area.
As a result, a town’s meeting was held on February 5, 1930 and a large committee elected
which met for the first time on April 24. From these members, 10 were chosen to be the first
committee of Middlesbrough Little Theatre.
The most recent step in the theatre’s history came on 17 July 1996, when, following a
feasibility study by Richard Bell, a recommendation was made to change its name to
Middlesbrough Theatre, not least because, with 484 seats and a stage 70’ wide by 40’ deep,
it isn’t that little!
Today, the theatre continues as a charitable trust, with Middlesbrough Council
as sole
trustees and is managed by Culture and Tourism.
is an umbrella company consisting of Middlesbrough Junior Theatre, earlier known as MLT Juniors (aged 11–16), together with a 'Kidstage' group of 7-10 year olds, and an older 'Youth Theatre' of 17-25 year olds.
The company performs in Middlesbrough Theatre, and has run for many years with many of its members continuing to work in drama and the performing arts. The group is a member of the National Association of Youth Theatres (NAYT). The company has also taken part in the Edinburgh Fringe
, and is a regular at the Middlesbrough Youth Drama Festival.
The company has recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, and is noted as one of the largest voluntarily-run youth theatres in the country.
and built between 1883 and 1887 is a Grade II listed building, and a very imposing structure. Of comparable grandeur alongside these municipal buildings is the erstwhile Empire Palace of Varieties of 1897, the finest surviving theatre edifice designed by Ernest Runtz in the UK. The first artist to star there in its guise as a music hall
was Lillie Langtry
. Later it became an early nightclub
(1950s), then a bingo hall and is now once again a nightclub in the form of 'The Empire'. It has recently, as of 2005, had the missing ornate glass and steel over-canopy to the front entrance fully restored. It works closely with the Middlesbrough Theatre to promote and buy tickets to both venues shows as well as the Hexagon Theatre.
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
in 1957 and was one of the first new theatres built in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
after the Second World War. It is at the Avenue, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
.
History
The history of Middlesbrough Theatre begins with the closure of the Opera houseOpera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
in the
1920s and its conversion to the Gaumont cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in the 1920s.
“It was, in the main, the Opera House which provided the town and district with drama and opera, and
it was a tragedy far surpassing any that appeared on its stage when the decision was made to close it
down. Middlesbrough could not merely travel to Stockton to satisfy its longing for the drama, for much
the same process had been busy there and the closing of the Opera House bereaved a vast area with
a massive population of all opportunity for participating in one of the oldest arts of mankind. As the
Middlesbrough Opera House lay dying, Miss Leah Bateman of the Macdona Players gave advice as
follows: “Keep the legitimate stage alive in your town by every means in your power. The stage is not
yet dead, it is temporarily submerged by a wave of celluloid from the west. With the help of good, well-managed
amateur societies the torch can be kept burning until such time as the theatre will once more
take its rightful place in a society of thinking people.” (from the programme for “Our Town” 1948).
In response, representatives from over forty dramatic societies met in 1923 to consider
forming a company to keep live theatre active in the area.
As a result, a town’s meeting was held on February 5, 1930 and a large committee elected
which met for the first time on April 24. From these members, 10 were chosen to be the first
committee of Middlesbrough Little Theatre.
The most recent step in the theatre’s history came on 17 July 1996, when, following a
feasibility study by Richard Bell, a recommendation was made to change its name to
Middlesbrough Theatre, not least because, with 484 seats and a stage 70’ wide by 40’ deep,
it isn’t that little!
Today, the theatre continues as a charitable trust, with Middlesbrough Council
Middlesbrough (borough)
-External links:*...
as sole
trustees and is managed by Culture and Tourism.
50th birthday
Middlesbrough Theatre celebrated their 50th Golden Anniversary on the 21st October 2007, a Golden Anniversary Gala Concert was held and a souvenir programme was produced.Toft House
Toft House is the main base for the amateur company Middlesbrough Little Theatre Ltd, who, built Middlesbrough Theatre, from the late 70's MLT Ltd. ceased running the theatre. Toft House facilitates the companies rehearsals for their productions and houses a theatre bar for paying members.Middlesbrough Youth Theatre
Middlesbrough Youth TheatreMiddlesbrough Youth Theatre
Middlesbrough Youth Theatre is an umbrella company consisting of Middlesbrough Junior Theatre, earlier known as MLT Juniors , together with a 'Kidstage' group of 7- to 10-year-olds, and an older 'Youth Theatre' of 17- to 25-year-olds....
is an umbrella company consisting of Middlesbrough Junior Theatre, earlier known as MLT Juniors (aged 11–16), together with a 'Kidstage' group of 7-10 year olds, and an older 'Youth Theatre' of 17-25 year olds.
The company performs in Middlesbrough Theatre, and has run for many years with many of its members continuing to work in drama and the performing arts. The group is a member of the National Association of Youth Theatres (NAYT). The company has also taken part in the Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
, and is a regular at the Middlesbrough Youth Drama Festival.
The company has recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, and is noted as one of the largest voluntarily-run youth theatres in the country.
Other notable buildings
Middlesbrough Town Hall, designed by George Gordon HoskinsGeorge Gordon Hoskins
George Gordon Hoskins FRIBA , was an English architect responsible for the design of several public buildings in the North East of England...
and built between 1883 and 1887 is a Grade II listed building, and a very imposing structure. Of comparable grandeur alongside these municipal buildings is the erstwhile Empire Palace of Varieties of 1897, the finest surviving theatre edifice designed by Ernest Runtz in the UK. The first artist to star there in its guise as a music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
was Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry , usually spelled Lily Langtry when she was in the U.S., born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, was a British actress born on the island of Jersey...
. Later it became an early nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
(1950s), then a bingo hall and is now once again a nightclub in the form of 'The Empire'. It has recently, as of 2005, had the missing ornate glass and steel over-canopy to the front entrance fully restored. It works closely with the Middlesbrough Theatre to promote and buy tickets to both venues shows as well as the Hexagon Theatre.