Marina

• Theatre ID
  915
• Built / Converted
  1901
• Dates of use
  • 1988 - 1929: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  London Road North, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England

Details

The theatre stands on the site of an earlier (1878) building of the same name, which had, itself, started life as a roller skating rink (the original name was the Rink Theatre). The present building is one of Runtz’s few theatres still standing, but what is seen today is the result of the 1980s works to a building which was, in essentials, a 1930s cinema. The original cinema conversion works dealt harshly with the Runtz theatre. Further architectural damage occurred when the ABC house style was imposed on the exterior in 1963, the elegant full width glass and cast iron canopy being removed and the walls covered to first floor level with blue-grey tiling. It closed finally at the end of 1984. Fierce political controversy resulted in the Council purchasing the building in time to prevent demolition and they then set about a major refurbishment. The dressing room block was demolished and rebuilt, new toilets were built and the exhibition/crush area was formed. The exterior tiling was removed, revealing original features. The theatre reopened in 1988 with a programme of live one night stands and films. The present lighting was acquired when the Sparrows Nest Theatre was demolished. There are eight dressing rooms accommodating a total of 64. The flytower has 12 hemp sets and six counterweights. The cyclorama is new.

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• Other names
  Rink Theatre, ABC Cinema
• Events
  • 1988 - 1929 Use: continuing
  • 1878 Design/Construction:
    • R F Brett - Architect
  • 1901 Alteration: rebuilt as a theatre
    • E Runtz & Co - Architect
  • 1930 Alteration: converted to cinema
    • F Burdett Ward - Architect
  • 1988 Alteration: reconstructed as theatre
    • Borough Architect - Architect
  • 1908 Owner/Management: Lowestoft Marina Theatre Co Ltd
  • 1912 Owner/Management: Mr B Pareezer, proprietor
  • 1929 Owner/Management: F H Cooper
  • 1931 Owner/Management: Associated British Cinemas
  • 1975 Owner/Management: C & R Cinemas of King’s Lynn
  • 1985 Owner/Management: Waveney District Council
• Capacities
  • Current: 781
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Rake
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 1908: 8.5m (28ft) 1993: 8.5m (28ft) Width 1908: 55ft 1993 Width SL: 2.7m SR: 2.7m
  • Proscenium width: 1908: 34ft 1993: 7.5m (24ft)
  • Height to grid: 1908: 38ft 1993: 11m
• Unreliable anecdotes
  Following an air raid on 13.1.42 the building was a temporary mortuary. Legend has it that only the stalls were so used, audiences watching the cinema programme from the balcony.