Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre
| Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| General information | |
| Address | Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2TR |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 53°0′45″N 2°10′18″W / 53.01250°N 2.17167°W |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Hulme Upright and Partners |
| Website | |
| https://stokerep.info/ | |
Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre is a theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It opened in 1997.
The Stoke Repertory Theatre Players present a season of plays each year. The theatre is also a venue for local dance, drama and musical theatre companies.
History
Stoke Repertory Theatre Players
A group of amateur actors and actresses in Stoke-on-Trent met in 1920 to stage the play Caste by T. W. Robertson, which they performed in February 1921 at the Empire Theatre, Longton. They later created a theatre, converted from a mission church in Beresford Street in Shelton; it opened in March 1933 with the play Lean Harvest by Ronald Jeans. They subsequently presented a season of varied plays each year. The theatre in Beresford Street closed in May 1997.[1]
New theatre
In 1992 The Stoke Repertory Theatre Players were on the verge of purchasing the former Coral Bingo in Longton which was a bingo hall inside the old Empire Theatre in which the group had performed some years prior. As part of this there were plans to renovate the building back to its original state as a theatre so it could be used as a performance space to the public, However, on New Years Eve 1992, mere days before the purchase should been completed, a major fire broke out at the building, completely gutting it. After surveyors' assessed the site, it was deemed unsafe and all but the façade was demolished. [2]
The building of the new Leek Road theatre was proposed in 1993 to replace the deteriorating former theatre of the Stoke Repertory Theatre Players following the fire which destroyed the Longton Empire. Funds received for the project included donations from local businesses, and a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. The theatre was designed by Hulme Upright and Partners. It opened in November 1997, with a production of Noises Off by Michael Frayn.[1]
The theatre today
The theatre seats 250. The Rep is a limited company with charitable status, and is staffed by volunteers. The theatre normally presents during the year a season of six plays. It is also hired by local dance, drama and musical theatre companies.[3][4]
References
- ^ a b "The Repertory Players 1920–2017". Rep at 20. Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre. (Brochure for 2017–2018)
- ^ "Repertory | Theatres Trust". database.theatrestrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
- ^ "About" Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Stoke Repertory Theatre" Visit Stoke. Retrieved 28 October 2020.