real time web analytics
Report - - Grand Theatre, Doncaster - December 2011 | Theatres and Cinemas | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Grand Theatre, Doncaster - December 2011

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

Muttley

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Visited on my lonesome.

This has been a bit of a "holy grail" for me, being local, so when I saw Speed and Dweeb's reports last week I knew I had to move fast in case I missed my window of opportunity. But a mental week at work, woman trouble and a gig I'd bought tickets for all conspired to delay my visit, so I had my fingers firmly crossed as I ventured into town...

Doncaster's Grand Theatre once stood on Station Road, which led to the train station - quite an important thoroughfare in the town where the Flying Scotsman and The Mallard steam engines were built. You can see the Grand in the centre background of this picture - its the only one of those buildings still standing, all the rest swept away by the 60s/70s in favour of one of those lovely Arndale Centres

50.jpg


The theatre is now hemmed in on 3 sides by the shopping centre (whose owners also own the theatre) and on the other side by a dual carriageway, which as Dweeb noted, has actually taken a bit out of Grand.

I neglected to get any externals on the day (mainly because I wanted to GTFO ASAP as I know the shopping centre security can be pretty keen), so here's a "library" photo (Lomo fisheye)

4329046454_748bdcf323.jpg


Some history courtesy of the Friends of the Grand Theatre

The Grand was opened on the 27th March 1899. It started its life as a Circus Hall and then became the home of the Salvation Army, it was used for Political Speakers and eventually it was bought and turned into a theatre by a Mr J W Chapman, who at that time was the Lessee of the Old Theatre which stood in the Market Place. It was designed by J P Briggs and was built by a local firm of builders, Arnold & Sons.

It was one of the first theatres in the country to have electric lights and also a sprinkler system installed. All staircases in the building are in stone as fire was a great hazard in those days.

Many famous names ‘trod the boards’ at the Grand including Charlie Chaplin, Max Miller, Henry Hall and his band with Betty Driver (who went on to play Betty Williams in Coronation Street), Julie Andrews and Morecambe & Wise.

and from The Theatres Trust

The Grand Theatre’s last stage production was Showboat in 1962 after which it was converted to a bingo hall. In the 1980s a ring road was built around the theatre and as a consequence a corner of the stage was chamfered. In 1995 the bingo closed and the theatre was due for demolition but was saved by the Friends of the Doncaster Grand Theatre along with Doncaster Civic Trust who succeeded in getting it statutory listed Grade II.

The Grand Theatre had a lucky escape in 1942 when a German dropped two bombs on the town centre, one of which flattened a car and motorbike showroom directly opposite the Grand

4057784520.jpg


Fast forward to 2011 and the Grand sits neglected and constrained by its surroundings. There is evidence of water causing some damage in the Gallery section, but not too bad so far although some remedial work wouldn't go amiss (or a full scale restoration but I think that might be asking a bit much).

From the back of the stage
6493416083_96710a5495.jpg


Proscenium
6493429175_d8b10c71d6.jpg


From the stage
6493432761_4355494764.jpg


The Circle
6493439001_81be24dc96.jpg


The stage as seen from the Circle
6493442915_12cbfdd69d.jpg


Moulding detail
6493446953_1295954261.jpg


6493451051_97bae07846.jpg


The Gallery
6493457869_a0d9e9488a.jpg


Fantastic detail on these seats in the Gallery
6493464941_3a436febeb.jpg


Mouldings above the proscenium
6493468007_8f4f0b6773.jpg


Sunbeam
6493473257_28814982dd.jpg


Fly tower
6493476675_d422f04ff8.jpg


6493484615_d970cdd94c.jpg


Old posters from around 100 years ago


6493498817_c0b3648704.jpg
6493495161_7ca6e0cb15.jpg
6493408109_5d857a0a8c.jpg


6493504567_56d19c26fd.jpg


I hope something can be done to save this beautiful building, but frankly I don't hold out much hope for any investment in the current economic climate.

 
Top