Civic (Bedford)

• Theatre ID
  2507
• Built / Converted
  1900
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  dark (theatre and community use)
• Address
  Horne Lane, St Paul's Square, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1SJ, England
• Website
  • Bedford Council - Bedford Theatres

Details

Built in 1859 as an assembly hall extension to the grammar school building in St. Paul's Square, and converted for theatre use in 1900. A handsome building in Ancaster stone, with chaste classical proportions, pediments and rusticated quoins, juxtaposed with big mullioned and transomed windows. Plain double entrance doors in added lobby between advanced flanking bays. The interior is a simply decorated Victorian hall, with a small shield featuring above the proscenium. Seating is tiered and removable in the stalls, and there is a small raked balcony supported by slim pillars, with plain front. Described as having 'a wonderfully authentic atmosphere', and with its classic Victorian stage equipped with rope and wire pulleys, the Civic is a small venue admirably suited to providing performance space for community groups and smaller productions.

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• Events
  • 1859 Design/Construction: as extension to grammar school
    • James Horsford - Architect
  • 1900 - 0 Design/Construction: converted from school hall to theatre (architect unknown).
  • 1950 - 0 Alteration: refurbished (architect unknown).
  • 1969 - 0 Alteration: repositioning of lighting box from side stage to rear of balcony; modernisation of dressing rooms.
    • Roy Fogg (Borough Town Council Chief Architect) - Architect
  • 1995 - 0 Alteration: refurbished (architect unknown).
  • Owner/Management: Local Authority
• Capacities
  • Later: 1967: 313
  • Later: 289
  • Current: 285
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Proscenium flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 5.78m Width: 8.84m
  • Proscenium width: 6.1m
  • Height to grid: 7.62m
  • Orchestra pit: None