Loft Theatre

• Theatre ID
  509
• Built / Converted
  1910
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (Amateur theatre)
• Address
  3 Victoria Colonnade, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England

Details

In 1871 a domed building was erected on the site of an old drill shed and used as a circus. The dome was removed in 1900. Opened as a skating rink in 1909. Rebuilt as Colonnade Theatre in 1910. Became the Loft Theatre in 1945 and rebuilt in 1968 as, for all practical purposes, a new theatre. The building fronts the river Leam. In addition to the main auditorium there is a rehearsal room which occasionally doubles as a studio theatre. The main auditorium has ten rows of seats in a single rake. There is a squat fly tower and one fly gallery.

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• Other names
  Victoria Pavilion, Victoria Grand Circus, Olympia Skating Rink, Colonnade Theatre, Colonnade Cinema Theatre
• Events
  • 1871 Design/Construction: as a circus
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1909 Alteration: converted to skating rink
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1910 Alteration: rebuilt as a theatre
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1945 Alteration: new proscenium, dressing rooms and temporary stage erected
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1968 Alteration: refurbished following fire
    • James A Roberts (Stanley Sellers) - Architect
  • 1974 Alteration: storage facilities, dressing rooms and bar lounge extended
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1909 Owner/Management: R H & G R Kay of Scarborough, owners
  • 1910 Owner/Management: Gillsmith’s Ltd, owners or lessees, Harry Plant, manager
  • 1918 Owner/Management: Arthur Unfraville Morris, owner, J Halifax, manager
  • 1943 Owner/Management: Loft Theatre, owners
  • 1993 Owner/Management: Leamington & Warwickshire Dramatic Society, owners
• Capacities
  • Original: 1871: 2000
  • Later: 1910: 1000 1918: 900 1945: 250 1993?: 200
  • Current: 200
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: 1993: 95ft x 70ft; 1910: 90ft x 90ft
  • Stage dimensions: Depth 1910: 19ft Width SL: 21ft SR: 21ft
  • Proscenium width: 1910: 20ft x 15ft high