Grand Casino (Pavilion)

• Theatre ID
  283
• Built / Converted
  1912
• Dates of use
  • 1912 - 1972
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (amusement arcade)
• Address
  Promenade, Penzance, Cornwall, England

Details

A typical seaside theatre of its date. Small rectangular auditorium with segmental tunnel-vaulted ceiling, lunette windows, panelled side walls and flat floor. Segmentally-arched proscenium with Baroque plasterwork enrichment. Shallow stage without fly tower. The circle is now divided off and serves as a restaurant. In 1974 the whole building was in a poor condition and there have been many alterations to interior and exterior which have resulted in the loss of some of the original plasterwork. The long, low façe to the Promenade is in Cornish granite. A five bay Tuscan colonnade between two squat, square towers, each with an oeil-de-boeuf window in the upper stage. The towers were originally capped with copper cupolas but these were replaced in slate in the 1970s. Large doorways with open segmented pediments carried by Atlantes. The interior is an amusement arcade, a large area consisting of the original auditorium plus foyer extending the width of the building to a depth of 8.2m (27ft) and taking in a room, stage right 12.8m (42ft) long and 3.7m (12ft) wide. The restaurant area stage left contains some original doors. Balustrades and glasswork have been partly restored. There is also a series of architects drawings of the original 1912 building on display.

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• Other names
  Pavilion and Winter Gardens
• Events
  • 1912 - 1972 Use:
  • 1912 Design/Construction:
    • F G Drewitt - Architect
  • 1919 Owner/Management: Pavilion Ltd
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Rake
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: 98ft wide frontage x 96ft deep
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 16ft 6in
  • Height to grid: N/A
  • Inside proscenium: 60ft
  • Orchestra pit: None