SLHS Theatre5 - First RST
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NEW SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL THEATRE
Banks Of River Avon
To Refurbish Or Not To Refurbish
As you may have just read on the previous page the original Swan Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1926. Stratford now had a big problem and a large committee was formed to plan what to do.
Woe, Destruction, Ruin And Decay
True that the old building was getting very old but because of its nearly non-existent modern facilities. The old building was known to be very hard work and so not liked by theatre producers. Indeed one comment was that
“it could serve as a somewhat anachronistic setting for the battle of Agincourt in Shakespeare’s Henry V.”
Certainly the vast amount of wood and haphazard modifications for electric lighting made it ready meat for the vociferous fire that consumed it.
Battersea Power Station completed in 1935.
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Theatres ●
Last update: 31/10/2024
Created: 13/03/2024
Every New Beginning Comes From Some Beginnings End
The committee decided that the old building needed to be remembered but it was decided to build a completely new premises alongside the burnt out remains.
This new, much enlarged, venue was opened in 1932 to the designs of Elisabeth Scott making it the first important building erected in Britain from the designs of a female architect. The heavy brick exterior and Art Deco interior design made no nods to Shakespeare. She had previously worked on the Shredded Wheat Factory at Welwyn.
However the press were quick to highlight comparisons with the then new Battersea Power Station (right). This may not be such a surprising coincidence because that, and the brick moster of Liverpool Cathedral, were designed by architect Giles Gilbert who just happened to be her cousin.
Edward Elgar, who was expected to be the Musical Director, was so livid that he refused even to set food in it.
Given this scheme of things maybe the local’s pet name for it was kinder: “The Jam Factory”.
Balcony
Ground Floor
