Gaiety (Ilfracombe)

• Theatre ID
  1816
• Built / Converted
  1900
• Dates of use
  • 1900 - 1963
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (Amusement arcade)
• Address
  Sea Road/Wilder Road, Ilfracombe, Devon, England

Details

A sea-side theatre at the end of a terrace of shops facing the sea. It is now listed, a charming incident in the street with its turret and weather-vane. Closed in 1963 after failing to meet safety requirements which would have reduced its capacity, the theatre became an amusement arcade.

---

Hide further details

• Events
  • 1900 - 1963 Use:
  • 1900 Design/Construction:
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1963 Alteration: interior reconstructed as an amusement arcade
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1912 Owner/Management: Mr Harding, proprietor
  • 1948 Owner/Management: Harry Quick, owner
  • 1952 - 1963 Owner/Management: George Thomas, lessee
• Capacities
  • Later: 1912: 650 1963: 387
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: 1912 Depth: 16ft Width: 23ft
  • Orchestra pit: None
• Unreliable anecdotes
  The manager of the amusement arcade thought it had been built as a circus, but the local museum thought not. The summer show ‘Let’s be Gay’ was second (in standing) to Clarkson Rose’s Twinkle, and ran for 28 years. John Levitt appeared here in revue, and has confirmed description, and thought that it was once used for roller skating.