Did anyone else see this article about the renovation of a massive derelict outdoor theatre in Scarborough? (from the Times, also reported in a Guardian blog http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle5083741.ece )
Could be an amazing place, but 8,000 seats? That's more than ten times as many as the Minack! How on Earth are they going to fill it? Looks like there could be some spectacular sets. And it didn't stop me daydreaming about what shows could go on there.
And I keep wondering how the audience would manage to hear anything in the days before radio mikes.
Full Version: Massive Outdoor Theatre In Scarborough
The Open Air Theatre is said to be "restored", but this is not strictly true. It will be re-opened but updated for the 21st century.
When it opened in 1932 there was tiered seating for 5876 with the balance made up of loose deck chairs. The official house record was 8983 in 1952, but an unofficial attendance of 11,000 was claimed for a recording of "It's A Knockout" in the mid 1960's. The stage is on an island and the local operatic society staged many successful summer seasons (usually four nights per week) often utilising the water with productions such as The Gondoliers and Pirates of Penzance. At the rear of the tier is a two storey control tower, whilst at the front are two brick follow spot boxes. One of the last performances was a sell out (estimated 8,000) concert by James Last and his Orchestra in around 1986. The stage and dressing rooms were largely dismantled in 1997 and the wooden seating (but not the concrete tiers) removed.
The current proposals involve restoring the seating with an optional retractable cover over the central block of around 2,000 seats. The stage will remain on the island but will be of a very different design. An acoustic cover will protect the performers and electrical equipment. Lighting and sound will bear no comparison with earlier times. It anticipated that the season will be fairly short each year and will encompass both visiting amateur musicals together (given the arena sized capacity) some of the biggest names in the music business (on a one-night basis).
The photo below shows the theatre from the distance. The lower portion of the tiered seating is visible and the bushes on the left are on the (now overgrown) stage area in the lake. If it comes to fruition, and I believe it will, it will be a unique venue and a major draw for the town, provided they can get the programming right!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/95312839/
When it opened in 1932 there was tiered seating for 5876 with the balance made up of loose deck chairs. The official house record was 8983 in 1952, but an unofficial attendance of 11,000 was claimed for a recording of "It's A Knockout" in the mid 1960's. The stage is on an island and the local operatic society staged many successful summer seasons (usually four nights per week) often utilising the water with productions such as The Gondoliers and Pirates of Penzance. At the rear of the tier is a two storey control tower, whilst at the front are two brick follow spot boxes. One of the last performances was a sell out (estimated 8,000) concert by James Last and his Orchestra in around 1986. The stage and dressing rooms were largely dismantled in 1997 and the wooden seating (but not the concrete tiers) removed.
The current proposals involve restoring the seating with an optional retractable cover over the central block of around 2,000 seats. The stage will remain on the island but will be of a very different design. An acoustic cover will protect the performers and electrical equipment. Lighting and sound will bear no comparison with earlier times. It anticipated that the season will be fairly short each year and will encompass both visiting amateur musicals together (given the arena sized capacity) some of the biggest names in the music business (on a one-night basis).
The photo below shows the theatre from the distance. The lower portion of the tiered seating is visible and the bushes on the left are on the (now overgrown) stage area in the lake. If it comes to fruition, and I believe it will, it will be a unique venue and a major draw for the town, provided they can get the programming right!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/95312839/
Thank you very much for the information on the plans, Ian. Is there any indication as to the timescales for this? It sounds like it will be a few years at least. And will it be owned by the council?
"In Sweeney's ledger the entries matched, a Beadle arrived and a Beadle dispatched."
"In Sweeney's ledger the entries matched, a Beadle arrived and a Beadle dispatched."
QUOTE(Michael H @ Nov 20 2008, 11:58 PM) 
Thank you very much for the information on the plans, Ian. Is there any indication as to the timescales for this? It sounds like it will be a few years at least. And will it be owned by the council?
"In Sweeney's ledger the entries matched, a Beadle arrived and a Beadle dispatched."
"In Sweeney's ledger the entries matched, a Beadle arrived and a Beadle dispatched."
Work has commenced this week with a view to having the theatre available for at least part of the 2009 Summer season in the town. Ownership is unclear, I believe it will be council owned but possibly run by a private company.
The former wooden benches on the tier will not be replaced, instead 7,000 tip-up stadium seats will be installed. There will also be a new feature of "dancing fountains" in the water in front of the stage. There will be new buildings housing dressing rooms and "backstage" facilities for the artistes and toilets, kiosks (bars), and box office.
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