Picturedrome (Holmfirth)

• Theatre ID
  2403
• Built / Converted
  1912
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (Cinema and theatre)
• Address
  Market Walk, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 7DA, England
• Website
  • The Picturedrome

Details

The Picturedrome re-opened in 1998 as a cinema/theatre. Originally opened in 1912 as a cinéariety theatre; the proscenium is a typical Edwardian gilt affair with a central cartouche above the flattened top. The stage is 5m (16ft 5in) deep and 7m (23ft) wide. Limited flying. The single flat-fronted balcony is returned to the wall on the right hand side only, facilitating an emergency exit to the rear of the building. The front of the circle is decorated with well modelled plasterwork. The ceiling is a coffered segmental barrel vault executed in pressed tin - a very rare survival for Britain (more common in North America - see Clevedon Curzon). The revamped auditorium uses the front stalls area only, the rear stalls having become a large bar area. The balcony reached by a single staircase with a tiled lower portion, became a picture postcard museum (Bamforths who produced cards in the town until recently operated the cinema and also produced many films 1913-15). The exterior, with its pitched gable following the line of the slate roof is typical of a cinema of this period. It has two pairs of glazed entrance doors with a window either side and four windows at first floor level. The date of the building is above the two central upper windows. The flytower is not raised above the roof line and stage access doors is now slightly restricted by a modern hotel built to the rear of the theatre - but still accessible.

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• Other names
  Valley Theatre
• Events
  • 1912 Design/Construction:
    • P M Brown & Co - Architect
• Capacities
  • Later: 1943: 779
  • Current: 200
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 5m Width SL: 4m SR: 4m
  • Proscenium width: 7m
  • Orchestra pit: None