Thorndike_Theatre

Thorndike Theatre

Thorndike Theatre

Historic site

The Thorndike Theatre, now known as the Leatherhead Theatre, is a Grade II listed building in Leatherhead, Surrey, England.[1] Roderick Ham designed the theatre within the shell of the disused 1930s Crescent Cinema. Named after Dame Sybil Thorndike, the theatre was opened on 17 September 1969 by Princess Margaret.[2][3]

Quick Facts Former names, Location ...

The theatre closed in 1997 after the loss of public funding. A charitable trust was set up to operate it and the theatre re-opened as the Leatherhead Theatre in 2001, with seating reduced to 495 plus three wheelchair places.[4]

History

The Thorndike Theatre opened in 1969 as a replacement for the 300-seat Ace Cinema in Leatherhead High Street. The cinema had originally been built in 1890 as the Victoria Hall[5] and as performances became more popular, its size had become restrictive and there was a need for a new and better-equipped performing arts venue in the town.[6]

The Thorndike Theatre, in Church Street, was designed by Roderick Ham in the modernist style.[7] It was rebuilt from the former Crescent Cinema, which was originally constructed in 1939 and which was run by a local family until the 1960s.[8][9] Although the exterior walls of the Crescent were retained, the interior, including the 526-seat auditorium and lobby, was built anew.[6] Named for the actor Sybil Thorndike, its construction was primarily paid for by private donations, with some additional funding from the Leatherhead Urban District Council and the Arts Council.[6] The building also included a studio theatre, the Casson Room, for smaller-scale performances including youth productions. The Thorndike Theatre was opened in September 1969 by Princess Margaret.[8][10]

Although it was initially popular, the Thorndike Theatre regularly ran operating deficits.[6] Following several years of cuts in public subsidy,[6] it launched an appeal for £350,000 in February 1988, which was supported by the playwright, Alan Ayckbourn, actors, Prunella Scales and Timothy West, and the local MP, Kenneth Baker.[11] The theatre briefly closed in July 1990,[12][13] but reopened three months later following a rescue bid led by the producer and businessman, Bill Kenwright.[14] It closed again in April 1997 with a total debt of almost £1.2 million.[6][15][16] A second reopening followed in October 1997,[17][18] but closed just over a month later after the new operators, Screenworks, entered voluntary liquidation owing £400,000.[19][20]

The theatre was Grade II-listed in July 1999.[21] It reopened in 2001 as a part-time theatre,[15] cinema, community space and meeting place for the evangelical group, Pioneer People.[7][8] The annual Leatherhead Drama Festival, for amateur theatre groups, was launched at the theatre in 2004 and ran for 16 years.[22]

References

  1. [1]
    Historic England (8 July 1999). "Thorndike Theatre (Grade II) (1387322)". National Heritage List for England.
  2. [2]
    "Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead — The Twentieth Century Society".
  3. [3]
    "Leatherhead Theatre (ii)". The Theatres Trust.
  4. [4]
    "Information". Leatherhead Theatre. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. [5]
    Vardey 1988, pp. 89, 194.
  6. [6]
    Turnbull 2008, pp. 129–131.
  7. [7]
    Calder, Barnabas (June 2004). "Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead: Building of the Month". 20th Century Society. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  8. [8]
    Vardey 2001, pp. 123–124.
  9. [9]
    Powell, Goff. "The Crescent Cinema, Church Street, Leatherhead" (PDF). Leatherhead & District Local History Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  10. [10]
    "A royal day for theatre". Cobham News and Mail. No. 1742. 25 September 1969. p. 1.
  11. [11]
    "Theatre appeal backed". Leatherhead Advertiser. No. 5057. 18 February 1988. p. 16.
  12. [12]
    King, Debbie (13 June 1988). "It is curtains for theatre unless...". Leatherhead Advertiser. No. 5187. p. 1.
  13. [13]
    "Funds problem closes theatre". Surrey Herald. 26 July 1990. p. 30.
  14. [14]
    "£100,000 deal for theatre". Leatherhead Advertiser. No. 5192. 19 September 1990. p. 1.
  15. [15]
    "History". Leatherhead Theatre. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  16. [16]
    Gurney, David (10 April 1997). "Thorndike's shock debts". Leatherhead Advertiser. pp. 1, 3.
  17. [17]
    "Thorndike gets a spring clean". Leatherhead Advertiser. 2 October 1997. p. 1.
  18. [18]
    Fryer, Jennifer (23 October 1997). "Future looks rosy for revived theatre". Leatherhead Advertiser. p. 3.
  19. [19]
    Gurney, David (11 December 1997). "Second cash crisis closes Thorndike". Leatherhead Advertiser. p. 1.
  20. [20]
    Gurney, David (8 January 1998). "Theatre creditors told their investments lost". Leatherhead Advertiser. p. 9.
  21. [21]
    Gardner, Claire (8 July 1999). "Thorndike is listed but the doubts remain". Leatherhead Advertiser. p. 1.
  22. [22]
    "Leatherhead Drama Festival". Leatherhead Drama Festival. October 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

Bibliography
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