Library Theatre (Manchester)

• Theatre ID
  603
• Built / Converted
  1946
• Dates of use
  • 1946: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 5PD, England
• Website
  • Manchester Library Theatre Company

Details

E Vincent Harris was appointed architect of the central library building in 1928 as the result of an architectural competition. The site has important frontages to St Peter's Square, Peter Street and Mount Street and a circular form was adopted for the whole building. The library design is classical, faced with Portland stone to a height of 27.4m (90ft). The main entrance is marked by a Corinthian portico facing St Peter's Square. A lecture theatre seating 300 was built in the basement. Entrance was from stairs leading down from the Shakespeare Hall, behind the great portico, to the crush hall. Tiered, it had a fan-shaped auditorium, with apron stage, three dressing rooms, and projection box. The Manchester Corporation Act of 1946 empowered the Libraries Committee to fully utilise the theatre for 'lectures, concerts, displays and the performance of stage plays...'. It was managed initially under the direction of the Manchester Intimate Theatre Group. In 1952, the Libraries Committee took control. Today, the cloakroom has been replaced by the Library theatre cafeteria and a small ante-foyer, curved around the two entrances. The auditorium has been painted black, with seats furnished in scarlet. Minor modifications have taken place to the technical areas.

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• Events
  • 1946 Use: continuing
  • 1933 Design/Construction: as lecture theatre
    • E Vincent Harris - Architect
    • Bannister, Walton & Co Ltd (Trafford Park) - Contractor
    • William Moss & Sons Ltd (Liverpool) - Contractor
    • John Dickenson & Co Ltd (Bristol) - Contractor
    • Robert Anning Bell - Artist
  • Owner/Management: Manchester City Council
• Capacities
  • Original: 300
  • Current: 308
• Listings
  • Grade II* - as Central Library
• Stage type
  • Proscenium. Rake 1:24
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 5m Width SL: 6.65m SR: 6.65m
  • Proscenium width: 8.9m
  • Height to grid: 4.25m
  • Orchestra pit: None