Sandonia

• Theatre ID
  1695
• Built / Converted
  1920
• Dates of use
  • 1920 - 1923
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (snooker hall)
• Address
  248 Sandon Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, England

Details

The building, which was a theatre until 1923, when it became a cinema, is long and narrow. White stone façe to Sandon Road with central entrances flanked by one small shop each side. Above is a semi-circular arch and a circular window surrounded by garland and a central figure decoration. Flytower with a long lantern on the roof. The three-storey dressing room block is behind the stage, rectangular except for a cut into one side, due to the presence of an adjacent brook which necessitates a permanent pump in the cellar. There are eight dressing rooms. The lower part of the auditorium is used as a snooker hall. The stalls rake has been split into two terraces providing room for thirteen full sized tables and the stage has a false floor over the original rake, providing for four more tables. A false ceiling divides the snooker hall from the circle - at present left without seats. The auditorium before its horizontal division was tunnel-like. Long barrel-vaulted roof with parallel ribs can be seen above the false ceiling. The back of the circle is just short of 30.5m (100ft) from the proscenium opening. Staffordshire knot ornament within wreaths on circle front. The decoration is otherwise quite plain. The proscenium arch has a large plaster motif consisting of two female figures. The fly tower is cut off from the stage by two false ceilings. The safety curtain remains in situ.

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• Events
  • 1920 - 1923 Use:
  • 1920 Design/Construction:
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1921 Alteration: annexe (for refreshments) created at rear of circle
    • Unknown - Architect
  • Alteration: n.d subdivided horizontally
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1930 Alteration: adapted for talkies
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1923 Owner/Management: Messrs Goodalls, owners
  • 1930 Owner/Management: T J Everton for Staffordshire Entertainments Ltd, lessees
  • 1992 Owner/Management: Coral, Brian & Gary Thomas
• Capacities
  • Original: 1095
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium Rake 1:28
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: 53ft 7in frontage, c.185ft to rear wall of stage
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 30ft Width (wall to wall) 40ft
  • Proscenium width: 27ft 5in
  • Height to grid: c.62ft 7in