Open Air Theatre (Scarborough)

• Theatre ID
  2384
• Built / Converted
  1932
• Dates of use
  • 1932 - 1987
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused (and part derelict)
• Address
  North Stead Manor Gardens, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England

Details

The largest open air theatre in Europe (since Antiquity) was built by Scarborough Corporation and opened by the Lord Mayor of London in 1932. It was a striking landscape feature with the action viewed across a lake. The first production was 'Merrie England'. There was fixed seating in five blocks for 5,876 with the balance made up of deck chairs. The house record, set in August 1952, was an audience of 8,983 but an unofficial 11,000 was claimed for a free recording of 'It's a Knockout' in the 1960s. The theatre was built on the site of Hodgson's Slack taking advantage of ground contours which created a natural amphitheatre. In its heyday it was an important theatrical venue of national repute mounting lavish musicals with casts (largely amateur) of up to 200. During the season of three months two performances were held each week. Musicals ceased in 1968 after 'West Side Story', apart from a YMCA production in 1982. For eleven years 'It's a Knockout' games were staged (to ever increasing losses), and concerts with the likes of James Last were able to fill the theatre in 1983 and 1986. In 1977 the dressing rooms and stage set building on the island were demolished and the seating removed. In recent years many attempts to start a restoration have been made, and the theatre is on The Theatres Trust's Theatre Buildings At Risk register. However in 2008 planning permission was approved for a major restoration as part of the North Bay Project. Plans include creating 5,510 folding seats on the theatre's hard surfaced terracing, a central canopy to protect audiences from the elements as well as restoring the original projection tower. Additional temporary seating would increase the venue's capacity to 7,000 when major events were staged.

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• Events
  • 1932 - 1987 Use:
  • 1932 Design/Construction:
    • Scarborough Corporation - Architect
• Capacities
  • Original: 6500
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: 19m but up to quarter of a mile!
  • Orchestra pit: None - too wet!