Theatre use ceased in 1966 and bingo took over until 1998. There are still many interesting artefacts, including two splendid carbon arc spotlights in the projection box at the rear of the balcony, and there is another spotlight still in situ above a louver in the auditorium ceiling. Backstage there is still evidence of the paint frame, which was possibly inserted in 1897 when it is likely that Matcham’s first visit also provided the opportunity to improve the flying.

 

The result is now a separate lower grid upstage below the level where the rear roof truss cuts diagonally across the stage house, and parallel with the rear wall. Above it the Phipps grid still remains, although with some very limited headroom and only operable for the downstage area. The drum and shaft remain in situ for the paint frame, and a Grand Master lighting control on the stage right perch. There is also evidence of the early stage machinery in the timber underneath the stage. The understage area has since been fitted out to provide additional dressing rooms, whilst the cellar area, now partly flooded, has been used for storage. The cellar area also contains two interesting and very important early rectifiers.

 

In heritage terms, the theatre well merits its category A listing and has turned out to be far more interesting than hitherto reckoned. It cries out for a return to use, and the particularly good sight lines from the well-raked stalls, and the ability to introduce a forestage, gives it an extra degree of flexibility. But before any re-use is contemplated, it would be highly desirable to ensure that a conservation statement is prepared and the building properly recorded so that areas of particular historic importance are protected or, if necessary and appropriate, removed for safekeeping.

 

Text Copyright 2004 David Wilmore and Peter Longman.
Reproduced by permission of the authors.