Malvern Theatres

• Theatre ID
  377
• Built / Converted
  1928
• Dates of use
  • 1928: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (Assembly Rooms on site from 1885)
• Address
  Grange Road, Malvern, Hereford & Worcester, England

Details

This is now a two theatre venue with a cinema. The first step towards the creation of an entertainment centre for Malvern was taken in 1883 when the Promenade Pleasure Gardens were purchased by a newly formed company. A new Great Hall and Assembly Rooms with a glazed promenade was built in 1885. Alterations and additions were made over succeeding years. The most important of these being the building of a picture house in 1923 and a new hall replacing the promenade and conservatory in 1928. A three storey building was erected in 1949 to provide dressing rooms. However, the £6.5 million reconstruction which took place in 1997/98 transformed the whole complex. A new fly tower was built with 36 counterweight lines, the auditorium was altered, new foyers and a new theatre space (The Forum) were created, the latter within the existing hall. The main auditorium now houses 840 on two levels. The old stage boxes have been removed and the slips have been extended creating a spacious feel to the auditorium. The circle and box fronts have been decorated with a geometric pattern which reflects that of the frieze. The proscenium arch is framed by ornamental moulding and the whole redecoration has followed the colour scheme of 1885. It is said that part of the 1885 ceiling remains above the newly suspended ceiling at circle level. There is also interesting archaeological remnant in the administration corridor which runs behind the circle and where the 1997 building programme exposed part of the original external wall - this has been retained as a feature. Public space is of an exceptional quality - light attractive, airy and abundant, it furnishes the theatre with an exciting modern entrance, which can also be used for performance as the wood floor is sprung. The Forum Theatre (formerly the Elgar Hall) is a flat floored space, transformed into a theatre by retractable tiered seats and a balcony. The cinema is also used for conferences.

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• Other names
  Assembly Rooms, Festival Theatre
• Events
  • 1928 Use: continuing
  • 1885 Design/Construction:
    • J Johnson (London) - Architect
  • 1928 Alteration: Assembly Rooms rebuilt to become Malvern Theatre
    • A V Rowe (Worcester) - Architect
  • 1949 Alteration: extensive renovation, addition of new dressing rooms and workshop/scene dock
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1986 Alteration: formation of bar and lounge leading off foyer
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1998 Alteration: extensive alterations and improvements
    • RHWL - Architect
  • 1995 Design/Construction:
  • 1927 Owner/Management: Malvern District Council, Owners
  • 1928 Owner/Management: J Myron Howard, acting manager
  • 1928 Owner/Management: Ad-Visers, lessees
  • 1965 - 1986 Owner/Management: Malvern Festival Trust, lessees
  • 1986 Owner/Management: Malvern Urban District Council (took over management as well as being owners) Administered by M T Trust Ltd
• Capacities
  • Original: 700
  • Later: 1946: 902 1970: 793 1976: 799 1991: 783 1998: 840 (Festival) 580/840 (Forum)
  • Current: 840
• Listings
  • Grade II - Tower above entrance only
• Stage type
  • Pros rake (1:24)
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Width: 7.92m (26ft)
  • Proscenium width: 9.10m
  • Height to grid: 10.98m (36ft 1in)
  • Orchestra pit: Accommodates 20