Little (Chorley)

• Theatre ID
  2256
• Built / Converted
  1900
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (Amateur theatre)
• Address
  Dole Lane, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 2RL, England

Details

Thought to be a late Victorian or Edwardian Music Hall, adapted for cinema, perhaps cinéariety, in 1912. The main façe forms the entrance to the backstage areas, suggesting that it was possibly built as an owner’s/manager’s accommodation, or a company office. It stands on the curve of Dole Lane, at an angle towards the auditorium, which lies on a U-bend of the Lane. This front is heavily pseudo-Georgian, stone-faced, with EMPIRE in gable. The present entrance front is at the other end of the Lane and is quite plain. Through the public entrance is the original paybox, and stairs to shallow balcony at one side, stairs to projection room at the other. A door at either side leads to the raked stalls area. The roof is pitch pine with cast iron stanchions. The radiators and fittings are original. The seats were bought from (Bolton?) Theatre Royal when it closed. Two prosceniums, one from theatre days and a second from cinema times may be seen, set about 1m (3ft 3in) apart. The Chorley Amateur Dramatic Society acquired the building in 1959 for £2,000 and moved the stage half-way down the body of the building, creating a bar/green room behind. Films are screened when theatre is not in progress.

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• Other names
  Empire
• Events
  • 1900 Design/Construction:
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1912 Owner/Management: Archie Hooley
  • 1944 Owner/Management: Selwyn Hooley
  • 1959 Owner/Management: Chorely Amateur Dramatic Society
• Capacities
  • Later: 1940: 800 1952: 679
  • Current: 238
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • now: proscenium flat