Grand (Manchester)

• Theatre ID
  1781
• Built / Converted
  1883
• Dates of use
  • 1883 - 1916
• Current state
  Fragmental remains
• Current use
  Licensed premises (previously a Christian Science church; was cinema until 1924)
• Address
  Peter Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England

Details

Behind the modern façe of the Fourth Church of Christ Scientist in Peter Street lie the remains of the Grand Theatre. It was built by Edward Garcia and opened in 1883, and it is said to have been hastily-constructed. It underwent various improvements and some restructuring under several owners, seemingly the least successful of Manchester’s variety theatres before closing as a theatre in 1916. It was then remodelled as a cinema with new balconies, reducing the size of the auditorium. Known as the Palladium and then the Futurist, the cinema seat c.900 and closed in 1924, when it was acquired by the Christian Science Church. The front became a car showroom, with alterations to the façe. In the 1970s the façe was found to be unsafe, and was replaced by the present brick frontage. It is still possible to see many aspects of the cinema conversion of 1916 and a few from the theatre - the open-lattice balcony fronts, part of the proscenium, and some of the stage areas including a trap (thought to be an access trap).

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• Other names
  Grand Theatre of Varieties, Grand Pavilion, Palladium, Futurist
• Events
  • 1883 - 1916 Use:
  • 1883 Design/Construction: for Edward Garcia
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1883 Alteration: converted from circus to theatre
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1883 Owner/Management: Edward Garcia, owner
  • 1893 Owner/Management: H E Jones
  • 1910 Owner/Management: by J Redfern & Co Ltd, proprietors
  • 1916 Alteration: reconstructed internally as a cinema, with different balcony arrangements, reducing auditorium
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1924 Owner/Management: Christian Science Church
  • 1924 Alteration: modified for use as a church; foyer areas/back of house adapted for business use; balcony areas divided
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1970 - 1979 Alteration: new façade
    • Unknown - Architect
• Capacities
  • Later: 1916: c.900
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Pros flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: 1910 Depth: 24ft Width: 24ft
  • Proscenium width: 1910: 24ft