Oast Theatre
- Theatre ID1135
- Built / Converted1974
- Current stateExtant
- Current useTheatre (Club/amateur theatre)
- AddressLondon Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN10 3AN, England
- Website
Details
The Tonbridge Theatre and Arts Club (TTAC) came into existence in 1946 with the merging of two former amateur groups - Tonbridge Amateur Dramatic Society (TADS) and Tonbridge Little Theatre (TLT). In the early years of existence TTAC made use of the Mitre Theatre, a small theatre in a converted stables behind the Mitre Pub. In 1974 TTAC purchased a disused oast house on a farm in London Road, converting that to a theatre, and maintaining the lease on the Mitre stable for rehearsal and storage rooms. An extension in 1988 increased the ground floor at the side of the auditorium. At the same time the adjacent barn was purchased, and converted for use as workshop and wardrobe space, furniture and clothing store, so the lease for the Mitre stables could be ended. The auditorium is raked, with 112 seats in eight rows, gangways at either side. The stage has good wing space stage left with a roller shutter get-in (wing space stage right is negligible), a cyclorama with crossover behind, but no fly tower. A further extension in 1997 provided improvements to dressing room facilities and Green Room, as well as space for the curtain store and Archives.
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Events
- 1800 - 1899 Design/Construction: built as oast house (in use until 1966).
- 1974 Owner/Management: Tonbridge Theatre & Arts Club, owners and management.
- 1974 Design/Construction: converted to theatre by Theatre Club members.
- 1988 Alteration: extension to ground floor; purchase of adjacent barn for workshop.
- 1997 Alteration: extension to improve dressing room facilities amd Green Room, and to provide storage for Archives and curtains.
- Capacities
- Current: 112
- Listings
- Grade Not listed
- Stage type
- Pros flat
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Dimensions
- Stage dimensions: Depth: 14ft
- Proscenium width: 21ft
- Orchestra pit: None
