Athenaeum Theatre

• Theatre ID
  1095
• Built / Converted
  1961
• Dates of use
  • 1961: continuing (theatre closed 2009).
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  dark (building open, but theatre closed since end of July 2009)
• Address
  Derry’s Cross, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2SW, England
• Website
  • The Plymouth Athenaeum website

Details

Built with war damage compensation, the Athenaeum Theatre took the name of an earlier building by Foulston, which was next to his 1813 Theatre Royal, and housed "The Plymouth Institution". A somewhat austere building, it provided a lecture hall for the institution, a theatre for public use, a local interest library and other ancillary rooms. The foyer is plain. The intimate auditorium has raked stalls and a single raked balcony, with no interior decoration. The stage is well equipped, with a revolve, small fly tower, orchestra pit, understage crossover and four dressing rooms. It forms a friendly venue for small companies and amateur and school productions. The Athenaeum building is a self supporting building, whose income comes solely from membership fees and theatre hire. The theatre was forced to close on 30 July 2009 'until further notice'.

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• Events
  • Owner/Management: The Plymouth Athenaeum, proprietors
  • 1819 Design/Construction: Institute building opened.
  • 1941 Demolition: Institute building destroyed in blitz.
  • 1961 Use: continuing (theatre closed 2009).
  • 1961 Design/Construction: Athenaeum built on the same site, containing library, lecture room, lounges and theatre.
    • Pearne & Roseveare - Architect
• Capacities
  • Original: 352
  • Current: 340
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Pros flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 7.62m Width SL: 7.24m SR: 7.24m
  • Proscenium width: 7.87m
  • Height to grid: 8.15m
  • Orchestra pit: Original, 2.31m in front of stage with rail