Today in Theatrical History: The Grand Theatre, Fulham opens 1897

(Photo courtesy of theatretrust.org.uk)

 

On the 23rd of August 1897 the Grand Theatre Fulham opened just off Fulham high street with a performance of 'The Geisha' a musical written by Owen Hall with music and lyrics by Jones, Monckton and Greenbank. The theatre became a cinema known as the Shilling Theatre in 1912 but eventually started showing live performances again in 1937. The Theatre was demolished in 1960 and there are no signs of its existence on the spot where it once stood. To read more about this theatre please go to the theatre trust website here. Or to read a report from opening night and see some more pictures of the theatre and other Fulham venues please go to the arthurlloyd.co.uk website at the following link here. By all means read more of http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk as it is one of my favourite websites on the internet and is just a wonderful resource.



Update of classic TFMH post: Curtains!!! The Old Stagers

Here is a repost of my earlier blog on the Old Stagers company based in Canterbury. As I mentioned in the article, see below, the company announced a show was going to be presented between the 2nd and the 7th of August however it has  now been revealed that the show being performed is Oscar Wilde's 'Lord Arthur Savilles Crime'. The play has most recently been revived in a national tour starring Lee Mead, of 'Any Dream Will Do, in his dramatic debut playing the titular character. This late Victorian melodrama is known as a light hearted romp. With a 159 year reputation to uphold the Old Stagers will surely put on a fantastic production, tickets are available from this website.

The Old Stagers is an amateur Theatre Company that I have recently come across during my research into the Theatres of Canterbury for my Curtains!!! Project. One of the venues which I have looked up and researched at great length is the Theatre Royal Canterbury and whilst looking at the Times Digital Archive found reference to this group going back over a hundred years.

Formed in 1842 The Old Stagers hold a very strong claim on being the longest surviving amateur Theatre Company, originally founded by the Honorable Frederick Ponsonby it was set up to provide extra events for Canterbury's Cricket Week. According to their own website the actors were the cricket players! This of course left them little time to rehearse and on their website they talk about how they would rehearse on the green and in the tents. However reviews of these performances from 1908 onwards give these performers great respect and commend them for providing a lot of fun during the evenings before the next days cricket.

I cannot imagine a better day out really than a fine Kentish Ale in Canterbury watching the Cricket in the August Sun and then a piece of theatre in the evening. Sounds like my sort of Summers Day.

The next Canterbury Cricket Week is in August and the Old Stagers Website is advertising dates of August the 2nd until August the 7th.

For more information on Kent Cricket please go here.

For tourist information on the beautiful city of Canterbury please look here.

Xtofer

New Marlowe Theatre Canterbury: Curtains!!! Is going well.

As the regular readers of my blog will know I am currently researching the City of Canterbury for my Curtains!!! Project and its defunct theatre venues. Of course looking back on the past is important as we can learn from what came before but just as important is the theatrical future of the City.

In a sign of great belief in the city's Theatrical future they are building a brand new £23.8 million theatre complex designed by Keith Williams. Whilst they are without a main theatre this has meant they have had to utilise alternative spaces within the city which involves the whole community.

Whilst I am looking at the stories of all the past theatres its good to know the future is in good hands.

For info on the New Marlowe Theatre please go here.

Curtains!!! Project: A sidestep into the Old Stagers from Canterbury

The Old Stagers is an amateur Theatre Company that I have recently come across during my research into the Theatres of Canterbury for my Curtains!!! Project. One of the venues which I have looked up and researched at great length is the Theatre Royal Canterbury and whilst looking at the Times Digital Archive found reference to this group going back over a hundred years.

Formed in 1842 The Old Stagers hold a very strong claim on being the longest surviving amateur Theatre Company, originally founded by the Honorable Frederick Ponsonby it was set up to provide extra events for Canterbury's Cricket Week. According to their own website the actors were the cricket players! This of course left them little time to rehearse and on their website they talk about how they would rehearse on the green and in the tents. However reviews of these performances from 1908 onwards give these performers great respect and commend them for providing a lot of fun during the evenings before the next days cricket.

I cannot imagine a better day out really than a fine Kentish Ale in Canterbury watching the Cricket in the August Sun and then a piece of theatre in the evening. Sounds like my sort of Summers Day.

The next Canterbury Cricket Week is in August and the Old Stagers Website is advertising dates of August the 2nd until August the 7th.

For more information on Kent Cricket please go here.

For tourist information on the beautiful city of Canterbury please look here.

Xtofer