Woodville Halls

• Theatre ID
  2131
• Built / Converted
  1968
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (Multipurpose theatre)
• Address
  Woodville Place, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1DD, England

Details

Built in 1968, the building is part of the Council offices complex but standing alongside rather than embedded in it. The two do, however, share a common reception area. The building is characteristic of its time and in the architectural language of that time, rectilinear, soberly clad with aggregate faced grey slabs and approached across a wide paved space, a somewhat surprising setting in the heart of this old riverside town. The theatre is a multi-purpose room, square with rectangular extension on three sides. The floor can be flat or raked on hydraulic lifts to permit various configurations for exhibitions, cabarets, banquets or as a proscenium theatre or, with the centre sunk to form a cockpit, for theatre-in-the-round. There is a six row rear balcony with single row slip along one side. The coffered ceiling allows lights to be hung in any position without projecting visibly. Below the floor of the theatre there is a second hall, the Kent Room, but inadequate soundproofing makes it impossible to use both spaces to best effect. The Kent Room tends to be used for rehearsals or as a band room, but accommodates functions only when the theatre is not in use. Storage space is limited.

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• Events
  • 1968 - 0 Design/Construction: (Brian Richards - job architect)
    • H T Cadbury-Brown & Partners - Architect
    • Theatre Projects Consultants - Lighting
  • 1995 Alteration: altered to combine reception area with that of the Council offices
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1968 Owner/Management: Gravesend Borough Council
• Capacities
  • Original: 835
  • Later: Theatre-in-the-round 550
  • Current: 810 (+50 standing)
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed - recommended by C20Soc for listing, April 2005
• Stage type
  • Proscenium, flat
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: main auditorium 627sq m
  • Stage dimensions: d: 11m (38ft) apron 10ft w: 36ft
  • Proscenium width: 10.36m (35ft) h: 12-18ft w: 24-30ft
  • Height to grid: 19.8m (65ft) 20 c/w bars
  • Orchestra pit: flexible 26ft x 8ft 8 dressing rooms; orchestra room for 70