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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 17:58:21 GMT
I’ve just come across something on BBC news online about the Futurist Theatre in Scarborough. I don’t know it, but looking at the information in the article, it’s had- like most theatres- a fascinating history. The Beatles once played there... I’m always sad when I see a building that was once a theatre (or one of those truly grand cinemas) that’s now closed, boarded up, or has become something like a bingo-hall or a carpet shop. The two cinemas I visited where I lived as a boy have been demolished. I can remember almost every film I saw there... In central London I remember visiting the Astoria Theatre and the Westminster Theatre. Both gone. My dad tells stories of visiting Collins’ Music Hall on Islington Green as a boy. He’d have gone to pantomimes and variety shows there. It’s now a Waterstones, I think. Funnily enough, I recently went to a very small exhibition in Islington Library about the Borough’s famous gay residents, essentially to see some of the original Joe Orton library books he and Ken Halliwell had defaced. Collins’ Music Hall was mentioned, but as a place where men “who preferred other men’s company” would go to back in the day... well... to pick up! (I wonder if there are things my dad should have told me!) I wonder if others share my sense of sadness when theatres close their doors for good? I love this website: www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/index.html and am fascinated by some of the secrets revealed. |
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Post by showgirl on Oct 20, 2017 18:07:14 GMT
I miss the Half Moon, which I think was in Alie Street. I recall seeing Sian Phillips and Denis Lawson there in Pal Joey - but that was in 1980 and I lost track of the venue afterwards.
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Post by Jon on Oct 20, 2017 18:18:28 GMT
The Astoria is being reborn as a new theatre which Nimax will be running
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 18:33:05 GMT
I miss the Half Moon, which I think was in Alie Street. I recall seeing Sian Phillips and Denis Lawson there in Pal Joey - but that was in 1980 and I lost track of the venue afterwards. I’d forgotten that one! I used to go there loads... I saw Spend, Spend, Spend; Sweeney Todd, Moll Flanders (George Stiles, I think) I seem to remember they had a core of actors who did a lot of the shows. Gillian Hanna (I have absolutely no idea why I remember her name) was Mrs Lovett, and I was so pleased to see her pop up again fairly recently in The Cripple of Inishmaan with Daniel Radcliffe. Thanks for that reminder! |
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Post by crowblack on Oct 20, 2017 18:48:57 GMT
I used to go to Cardiacs gigs at the Astoria so have fond memories for that reason. The lovely art deco Futurist cinema in Liverpool has just been demolished by property developers - I think it may have been listed but it fell victim to the usual 'let it rot so we can demolish it on health and safety grounds' thing that seems to happen a lot to properties in prime locations in my fair city.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 19:18:48 GMT
My first theatre was Theatr Gwynedd in Bangor. We started going in the early-mid 80s when I was about 12ish, and used to go to loads of plays and dance things. I also did ballet and other dance quite seriously for a long time, and we did several courses there in school holidays, with classes and workshops on the stage, and we did annual dance shows there for several years. I also did work experience there when I was in 6th form, so was quite familiar with the backstage areas and the box office. I can still picture so much of the place, although there seem to be very few photos online. I moved away from the area in the early 90s for university, and then since settled in Derbyshire, although my parents still live in the area. The theatre closed down quite some time ago, and was boarded up for ages. Then one Christmas I went home and it wasn't there! My mum was quite casual about it - "oh yes, they knocked it down... they're building a new one" but I remember feeling really gutted about it. They've since built a fancy new place, but it's not the same as my beloved 70s concrete ugly theatre with orange patterned carpets.
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Post by firefingers on Oct 20, 2017 22:25:13 GMT
The Astoria is being reborn as a new theatre which Nimax will be running Part of me is rather miffed by this. The Astoria that was knocked down want a nimax theatre for plays. It was a gig venue and a night club. When it was knocked down we wrre told we wrre getting a similar replacement, which we aren't. As a theatre lover (and worker) I like the idea of another new West End House. But as music fan, what we are getting is not what was taken. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2017 22:35:10 GMT
Lots to remember here, Davenport Theatre Stockport (demolished in the nineties), last there for panto with Madge and Harold from Neighbours on a purportedly ironic night out. Spring Street Theatre in Hull before Hull Truck moved out over a decade ago, saw some of the Godber eighties hits there, Wythenshawe Forum, home to some great Sondheim productions as a satellite of Manchester’s more recently disappeared Library Theatre (relocated to Home). Last one I saw was Into the Woods in 93. Morecambe’s Winter Gardens, which is quite intact still inside but been closed since the late seventies. Listed, though, and hopes still exist to have it reopened.
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Post by Jan on Oct 21, 2017 3:38:24 GMT
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Post by showgirl on Oct 21, 2017 4:13:42 GMT
Any London theatregoers remember seeing productions at the Keskidee Centre in Islington? It opened in the 70's; they did some great work and the venue was significant at the time as "Britain's first arts centre for the black community". However, it closed in 1991 and the building was later damaged by fire.
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Post by profquatermass on Oct 21, 2017 6:40:25 GMT
Lots to remember here, Davenport Theatre Stockport (demolished in the nineties), last there for panto with Madge and Harold from Neighbours on a purportedly ironic night out. Spring Street Theatre in Hull before Hull Truck moved out over a decade ago, saw some of the Godber eighties hits there, Wythenshawe Forum, home to some great Sondheim productions as a satellite of Manchester’s more recently disappeared Library Theatre (relocated to Home). Last one I saw was Into the Woods in 93. Morecambe’s Winter Gardens, which is quite intact still inside but been closed since the late seventies. Listed, though, and hopes still exist to have it reopened. I didn't realise the Forum and the Library Theatre had gone - saw loads of stuff at both in the 80s and early 90s. Is Home what was the indie cinema on Oxford Road? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 21, 2017 7:35:06 GMT
Wythenshawe seems a very odd place for a theatre, let alone one showing musicals and even more incongruous, Sondheim musicals. I wonder what the locals thought.
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Post by hulmeman on Oct 21, 2017 7:44:22 GMT
Lots to remember here, Davenport Theatre Stockport (demolished in the nineties), last there for panto with Madge and Harold from Neighbours on a purportedly ironic night out. Spring Street Theatre in Hull before Hull Truck moved out over a decade ago, saw some of the Godber eighties hits there, Wythenshawe Forum, home to some great Sondheim productions as a satellite of Manchester’s more recently disappeared Library Theatre (relocated to Home). Last one I saw was Into the Woods in 93. Morecambe’s Winter Gardens, which is quite intact still inside but been closed since the late seventies. Listed, though, and hopes still exist to have it reopened. I didn't realise the Forum and the Library Theatre had gone - saw loads of stuff at both in the 80s and early 90s. Is Home what was the indie cinema on Oxford Road? The Forum in Wythenshawe closed many years ago. It was the most unlikely place to be a leading proponent of Sondheim's work, but under Paul Kerryson, it was. The fly tower still exists but inside what was the auditorium is now a library, café and health centre. There is still a performing arts space in the building, but more like a school hall. As for the Library Theatre, it closed a few years ago now and as Cardinal Pirelli says has joined up with the old Cornerhouse cinema and arts centre to form "Home" a new building, in a new square named after Anthony Wilson just off Whitworth Street. |
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Post by hulmeman on Oct 21, 2017 7:49:21 GMT
Wythenshawe seems a very odd place for a theatre, let alone one showing musicals and even more incongruous, Sondheim musicals. I wonder what the locals thought. I don't think they were invited to the party!!!!! "Oy are u goin' the mecca club tonight?" "No mate, me and the missus 'ave got tickets for Pacific Overtures tonight mate" "Ooo 'avin' some Sondheim large in't ya" For those who don't know the Royal and ancient borough of Wythenshawe, it is the largest "social housing" estate in Europe build in the 1950's and 60's round a shopping precinct and Leisure complex (The Forum). It is on the south side on Manchester (almost Cheshire) and is adjacent to the airport. It has almost no redeeming qualities since the theatre went. Well, except for the pork pies from the market hall. |
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Post by n1david on Oct 21, 2017 8:24:01 GMT
Not the same as most of these but my theatregoing initiation was in the theatre at the Magnum Centre, Irvine in the Clyde coast. It got all the touring productions from 7:84 and Wildcat plus a healthy mix of other stuff. It was a modern theatre/cinema similar in style to the Hampstead or Pitlochry, albeit a multipurpose venue ina leisure centre. It’s certainly where I got the theatre bug in my teenage years.
The Magnum was a huge leisure centre - when it opened the largest in Europe - with swimming pools, ice rink, bowling green, squash courts and so on. I remember it opening in the 70s as being part of the exciting future for Irvine New Town. It closed last year as the building was proving too expensive to maintain and is being pulled down.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so old as when I realised that something that was so new, exciting and modern was being demolished as being too old.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2017 9:45:15 GMT
First experience of Shakespeare (school visits) was at the St George's Theatre North London - lots of bored teenagers at the matinees but I loved the place.
Mermaid theatre - saw "They Shoot Horses Don't They?"with Imelda Staunton and Paul Greenwood among others - remember this as it was the first play I saw with minor audience participation in the early dance competition scenes.
Lovely memories.......
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Post by Mr Snow on Oct 21, 2017 11:49:03 GMT
I miss the Half Moon, which I think was in Alie Street. I recall seeing Sian Phillips and Denis Lawson there in Pal Joey - but that was in 1980 and I lost track of the venue afterwards. Must have been brilliant there. Both TonyLoco and I have praised it on here, seeing it after it transferred to the WE. Alberry I think. They were the first Theatre that I was aware of trying produce material specifically to transfer. (I suspect its gone on forever) |
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Post by Mr Snow on Oct 21, 2017 11:53:56 GMT
Developers nonsense I suspect. There’s yet another one opening next year, that will take the Opera out of the Kings Head Pub. |
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 21, 2017 12:26:54 GMT
Don't get me started, @caiaphas, on the Futurist Theatre. I could bore for England. (Even more than usual.)
At a time when all councils claim to have no money for essential services, Scarborough BC has found £4 million down the back of the sofa to demolish something that could be a year-round asset to a fading northern seaside town. It breaks my heart.
Everyone in Yorkshire knows the real reason. The site is wanted by the local theme park operator, who just happens to be a very generous donor to the Conservative Party. This isn't supposition, it's fact.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2017 15:30:29 GMT
First experience of Shakespeare (school visits) was at the St George's Theatre North London - lots of bored teenagers at the matinees but I loved the place. Mermaid theatre - saw "They Shoot Horses Don't They?"with Imelda Staunton and Paul Greenwood among others - remember this as it was the first play I saw with minor audience participation in the early dance competition scenes. Lovely memories....... Yes, I remember both of those venues too. (I’d forgotten Imelda was in Horses, but I recall Paul Greenwood (Rosie). Whatever happened to him?) Thankyou for the reminders. In the words of Jim Steinman, “It’s all coming back to me now...” |
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Post by loureviews on Oct 21, 2017 15:51:38 GMT
The lovely art deco Futurist cinema in Liverpool has just been demolished by property developers - I think it may have been listed but it fell victim to the usual 'let it rot so we can demolish it on health and safety grounds' thing that seems to happen a lot to properties in prime locations in my fair city. It was rotting twenty years ago so no surprise but sad to hear it couldn't be saved. |
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Post by ptwest on Oct 21, 2017 18:23:06 GMT
The Futurist in Scarborough has a special place in my heart - I lived in Scarborough for a few years in the early 90s and it was definitely on the touring circuit, saw Victoria Wood there, as well as Elaine Paige, Beautiful South, among many others. It served as a cinema when not being used as a live venue. But even back then it was in a poor state of repair and steadily declined ever since. It's very sad to see it go rather than restored.
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Post by showgirl on Oct 22, 2017 5:14:02 GMT
The Mermaid is still used for odd concerts. Have fond and less fond memories of "Horses" there, too. Personally, I really miss the Shed at the National. I'd quite forgotten the Mermaid and yes, I still pine for The Shed at the NT and don't see why they couldn't have kept it, as it was one of the more affordable NT spaces and there's no exact equivalent left there for most of the type of work it housed. Theatre Royal Stratford East was supposed to be acquiring its own version (or maybe the actual Shed, re-used?), but I've heard no more about this. |
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Post by tmesis on Oct 22, 2017 12:18:26 GMT
The Futurist in Scarborough has a special place in my heart - I lived in Scarborough for a few years in the early 90s and it was definitely on the touring circuit, saw Victoria Wood there, as well as Elaine Paige, Beautiful South, among many others. It served as a cinema when not being used as a live venue. But even back then it was in a poor state of repair and steadily declined ever since. It's very sad to see it go rather than restored. I've got huge nostalgia for all the Scarborough theatres/concert halls. I used to, as a child in the 60s, be taken on holiday by my auntie to Scarborough a number of times and we always went for a fortnight! Incredibly we seemed to go to a different show every night. We were there when the Beatles came to The Futurist. We didn't see the show but I remember vividly the mayhem of Beatlemania; loads of teenage girls screaming loudly with a high police presence and all traffic stopped as they arrived at the theatre. I must have gone to several shows there but the only one I remember seeing was The Black and White Minstrels. I recall being outraged at this, not because of my youthful liberal conscience, but because they were all miming! We used to go regularly to The Floral Hall, where we saw people like Dick Emery and Mike and Bernie Winters - surely the most unfunny double act in history. At the Spa Theatre we used to see a variety show called 'Dazzle' - this was low-rent variety, no big names but I loved it - and the excellent Max Jaffa at the Spa Concert Hall. I also remember going to plays at the Opera House, usually comedies, one memorable one being a version of Nearest and Dearest with Hilda Baker, Jimmy Jewel and Madge Hindle. |
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Post by ptwest on Oct 22, 2017 12:29:44 GMT
The opera house has long since gone, it was knocked down and replaced by a casino. I remember cinema nights there, in winter it was so cold you could see your breath!
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