Regal (Coalville)

• Theatre ID
  95
• Built / Converted
  1933
• Dates of use
  • 1933 - 1960
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Bingo
• Address
  Jackson Street, Coalville, Leicestershire, England

Details

The Regal’s predecessor was the Olympia which opened in 1910 as a skating rink but within three months stage shows were being presented. Having a flat floor it was capable of serving a dual role. Many professional and amateur companies played there during its 23 years life. It had a small squat fly tower. No trace of the old Olympia now remains. The present brick-faced building dates from 1933. It consists of a square tower on the right hand side the top of which is higher than the rest of the rectangular block. The stalls are steeply raked, giving very good sight lines. Wide proscenium opening 11.2m (36ft 8in). The stage, used frequently by local amateurs until the 60s, and occasionally by professional artists, is shallow with a recess in the rear wall. There is no grid as such. A series of pulleys hang from beams about two feet below the stage roof. Two dressing rooms occupy the upstage part of each wing. The Regal still has the ambience of a theatre, although it needs much backstage improvement and is unlikely to host stage shows again in the immediate future despite the fact it is the most suitable building in the area for this purpose. It seems a pity when local organisations are pressing for a civic theatre of some kind. One cannot imagine there being sufficient private or public cash to provide a new building with proper stage facilities.

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• Other names
  Olympia, Casino Bingo, Flutters Bingo
• Events
  • 1933 - 1960 Use:
  • 1910 Design/Construction:
    • Thomas Ignatius McCarthy (Coalville) - Architect
  • 1933 Alteration: completely rebuilt as ciné-variety
    • Archibald Hurley Robinson - Architect
  • 1910 Owner/Management: Coalville Olympia Co Ltd, proprietor
  • 1925 - 1926 Owner/Management: Charles Deeming, proprietor
  • 1930 Owner/Management: Edward Deeming, proprietor
  • 1992 Owner/Management: Flutters Bingo, proprietor
• Capacities
  • Original: 700-1000
  • Later: 1912: 1000 1992: 500 stalls; 354 circle (estimate)
  • Current: est. 800
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: d: 6.4m (21ft) w SL: 12.34m (40ft 6in) SR: 11.64m (38ft 2in)
  • Proscenium width: 11.27m x 7.31m high (37ft x 24ft)
  • Height to grid: 1933: c.8 m (26ft) to roof pulleys
  • Inside proscenium: 14.1m (46ft)
  • Orchestra pit: None