Victoria Theatre (Halifax)
Encyclopedia
Victoria Theatre in Halifax
, West Yorkshire
, England is a large theatre that opened in 1901.
In 1973 the name was changed to The Civic Theatre, before being renamed The Victoria Theatre in 1993.
The main auditorium has a capacity of 1,512 fully seated (or 1,860 part-standing), and has hosted many high-profile and international performers in addition to supporting a wide range of local community events and activities.
's Jazz Band played at the venue, with Ottilie Patterson
, and on 19 May 1961 Acker Bilk performed.
In 2004 British rock band Status Quo first performed at the theatre, and have made frequent visits to the venue. They returned on 12 October 2008 as part of their Pictures: 40 Years of Hits Tour 2008.
In 2006 the theatre hosted a number of famous acts, including Embrace
, with tickets selling out in just four hours following the success of their 2006 FIFA World Cup
anthem World at Your Feet
, and Morrissey
, who's tickets sold out even faster. Elkie Brooks
, Jo Brand
, an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling
's The Jungle Book
, the Chuckle Brothers
and illusionist Derren Brown
.
On October 3, 2007, Ian Brown played at the theatre to a sell out crowd.
The annual pantomime is a big event for the theatre, produced by Coventry
based production company, Imagine Theatre and written by the creative team behind The Tweenies. 2009's pantomime was Cinderella
and 2010's will be Sleeping Beauty
, both shows headlined by entertainer Neil Hurst
According to theatre manager Tim Fagan, the work was performed over a ten year period and, once the programme was completed the theatre received positive comments from the acts appearing on stage. The management team hope to stage some Agatha Christie
adaptations, as well as possibly inviting the National Theatre Company or the Royal Shakespeare Company
to perform. Mr. Fagan would also like to host more rock and pop events, and to support local musicians and bands. The theatre has been designated a Grade II listd building by English Heritage
.
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England is a large theatre that opened in 1901.
History
The theatre was first opened on 8 February 1901, when it was known as the Victoria Hall. In 1960 the hall was purchased by Halifax Borough Council who, after an extensive alteration and repair programme, converted it into a theatre and changed the name to The New Victoria.In 1973 the name was changed to The Civic Theatre, before being renamed The Victoria Theatre in 1993.
The main auditorium has a capacity of 1,512 fully seated (or 1,860 part-standing), and has hosted many high-profile and international performers in addition to supporting a wide range of local community events and activities.
Notable performances
On 10 March 1957, Chris BarberChris Barber
Donald Christopher 'Chris' Barber is best known as a jazz trombonist. As well as scoring a UK top twenty trad jazz hit he helped the careers of many musicians, notably the blues singer Ottilie Patterson, who was at one time his wife, and vocalist/banjoist Lonnie Donegan, whose appearances with...
's Jazz Band played at the venue, with Ottilie Patterson
Ottilie Patterson
Ottilie Patterson was a Northern Irish blues singer best known for her performances and recordings with the Chris Barber Jazz Band in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Biography:...
, and on 19 May 1961 Acker Bilk performed.
In 2004 British rock band Status Quo first performed at the theatre, and have made frequent visits to the venue. They returned on 12 October 2008 as part of their Pictures: 40 Years of Hits Tour 2008.
In 2006 the theatre hosted a number of famous acts, including Embrace
Embrace (UK band)
Embrace are an English post-Britpop band from Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, West Yorkshire. To date they have released five studio albums, one singles album and one B-sides compilation. The band consists of brothers singer Danny McNamara and guitarist Richard McNamara, bassist Steve Firth,...
, with tickets selling out in just four hours following the success of their 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
anthem World at Your Feet
World at Your Feet
"World at Your Feet" is a song by English rock band Embrace, and is featured on the re-released version of their album This New Day. It was the official song of the England World Cup squad in the 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign, and was released on 5 June 2006 . Singer Danny McNamara told the NME:...
, and Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
, who's tickets sold out even faster. Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
, Jo Brand
Jo Brand
Josephine Grace "Jo" Brand is a BAFTA winning British comedian, writer, and actor.- Early life :Jo Brand was born 23 July 1957 in Wandsworth, London. Her mother was a social worker. Brand is the middle of three children, with two brothers...
, an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
's The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by British Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling. The stories were first published in magazines in 1893–4. The original publications contain illustrations, some by Rudyard's father, John Lockwood Kipling. Kipling was born in India and spent the first six...
, the Chuckle Brothers
Chuckle Brothers
Barry Elliott and Paul Elliott , better known as the Chuckle Brothers, are British comedians. They are best known for their work on their BBC show ChuckleVision, which celebrated its 21st anniversary in March 2010 with a tour called An Audience with the Chuckle Brothers, which started in January...
and illusionist Derren Brown
Derren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
.
On October 3, 2007, Ian Brown played at the theatre to a sell out crowd.
The annual pantomime is a big event for the theatre, produced by Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
based production company, Imagine Theatre and written by the creative team behind The Tweenies. 2009's pantomime was Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
and 2010's will be Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince...
, both shows headlined by entertainer Neil Hurst
Renovations
Calderdale Council invested in the theatre, performing major improvements to the theatre building, including new toilets and cloakrooms, rewiring and adding a VIP suite. The council also outfitted the stalls with new seats at a cost of £335,000.According to theatre manager Tim Fagan, the work was performed over a ten year period and, once the programme was completed the theatre received positive comments from the acts appearing on stage. The management team hope to stage some Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
adaptations, as well as possibly inviting the National Theatre Company or the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
to perform. Mr. Fagan would also like to host more rock and pop events, and to support local musicians and bands. The theatre has been designated a Grade II listd building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.