Hulme Playhouse

• Theatre ID
  1836
• Built / Converted
  1902
• Dates of use
  • 1950 - 1986: 1991-97
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused
• Address
  Warwick Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 5EU, England

Details

Opened as the Hippodrome. Renamed Junction Theatre c.1905, and Playhouse in 1951. In 1902, the exterior was much altered. In 1950, it was extensively renovated and redecorated throughout when, together with the Hippodrome, it was acquired by the James Brennen circuit. From 1956-1987 it was used by the BBC as a recording studio for radio and television. Paired with the Hulme Hippodrome and, although smaller, the design of the auditorium is very similar, with two straight balconies, the front upper balcony set well back from the one below. As at the Hippodrome the first balcony (there are six rows in the centre) returns to the sides with four rows diminishing to two. Unlike the Hippodrome, however, the upper balcony also has slips (of one row) which run along the side walls directly to the proscenium. Again, the balconies and their slips are supported by iron columns, although here, despite the fact that the rest of the plasterwork is Baroque, the capitals are all of stiff-leaf Gothic foliage with polygonal tops - there is even a Gothic frieze and cornice on the inner face of the underside of the second balcony! The ceiling is again divided by beams on the lines of the columns: each section decorated by a lozenge-shaped panel. The proscenium is framed by giant fluted Ionic demi-columns supporting a straight entablature with a trophy of arms above. The plasterwork, although rich, lacks some of the vibrancy of the Hippodrome. The balcony fronts are decorated with large shell motifs between trophies of musical instruments. In 1990 the theatre was converted into the Nia Centre, a middle scale touring venue for promotion and production of culturally diverse programmes of drama, music and dance: Nia is Ki-Swahili for ‘purpose’. The many demands made on space by this multiple use led to some unfortunate alterations (e.g. loss of stage depth and unsatisfactory sightlines from parts of the house). The larger theatre, the Hippodrome, would have been more suitable. The new use, in fact, failed and the theatre is now dark.

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• Other names
  Hippodrome, Grand Junction Theatre, Junction Picture Theatre, Playhouse, BBC Playhouse, Nia Centre
• Events
  • 1950 - 1986 Use: 1991-97
  • 1902 Design/Construction:
    • J J Alley - Architect
  • 1950 Alteration: refurbished and redecorated
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1990 Alteration: converted to Nia Centre
    • Mills Beaumont Leavy - Architect
  • 1902 Owner/Management: W H Broadhead, owner
  • 1950 Owner/Management: James Brennan circuit, owner
  • 1956 Owner/Management: BBC, lessee
  • 1990 Owner/Management: Nia Centre, owner
• Capacities
  • Original: 1500
  • Later: 1988: c.900
  • Current: c.700
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Pros flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 39ft 1997: 4.27m plus forestage Width 1997: 13.42m
  • Proscenium width: 32ft 1997: 9.76m
  • Height to grid: 50ft 1997: 15.25m