Crucible Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Crucible Theatre is a theatre built in 1971 and located in the city centre of Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
, England
. As well as theatrical
performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker
, the World Snooker Championship
.
in Townhead Street. In 1967 Colin George
, the founding Artistic Director of the Crucible, recommended a thrust stage
for Sheffield, inspired by theatres created by Sir Tyrone Guthrie
. Tanya Moiseiwitsch
, who had been involved in designing Guthrie’s theatres, was the designer. The architects Renton Howard and Wood were engaged and the building itself began to take shape in 1969. It was completed in two years, on time for the opening performance in November 1971 of Fanfare an evening’s entertainment comprising -children participating in an improvised scene, Chekhov
’s Swan Song with Ian McKellen
and Edward Petherbridge
and a Music Hall Finale with a Sheffield Brass Band.
This demonstrated the versatility of the stage, which has since been adapted to Dance, Musical performance, as well as classical and modern theatre, and receives touring productions as well as hosting squash and spectacularly, the World Snooker Championship
.
The audience sits on three sides but no member is more than the length of a cricket wicket - 22 yards (20 metres) - from the performer, or indeed a snooker ball. Consequently although it seats 980 people the spectator has a intimate relationship with the activity on stage. Colin George and the Administrator David Brayshaw persuaded the Gulbenkian Foundation to finance for the first time the building of a professional theatre - the 400 seat Studio, which opened with the main house.
In 2001 the Crucible was awarded the Barclays ‘Theatre of the Year Award,’ and is a Grade II listed building.
The building went through a £15 million refurbishment between 2007 and late 2009 – opening during that period only for the 2008 and 2009 World Snooker Championships.
The Crucible reopened as a theatre on 11 February 2010 with a production of Henrik Ibsen
's An Enemy of the People
, with the official reopening by the Earl of Wessex
on 18 February 2010.
, meaning shows are designed and rehearsed in-house. These productions are normally overseen by the Sheffield Theatres
Group.
tournament has been played annually in the Crucible since 1977. The venue has also hosted championships of other indoor sport
s, such as table tennis
and squash
.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As well as theatrical
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
, the World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
.
History
The Crucible Theatre opened in 1971 replacing the Playhouse Repertory theatreSheffield Repertory Theatre
The Sheffield Repertory Theatre was a theatre company in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.The foundation of the Sheffield Repertory Company is generally considered to date from 1923, however the first recorded meetings of an amateur company of the same name were held at the Oxford Street...
in Townhead Street. In 1967 Colin George
Colin George
Colin George is a Welsh actor and director, born in Pembroke Dock, Wales. He is known for his many roles in numerous theatre productions as well as the founder of the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield ....
, the founding Artistic Director of the Crucible, recommended a thrust stage
Thrust stage
In theatre, a thrust stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its up stage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the audience than a proscenium, while retaining the utility of a backstage area...
for Sheffield, inspired by theatres created by Sir Tyrone Guthrie
Tyrone Guthrie
Sir William Tyrone Guthrie was an English theatrical director instrumental in the founding of the Stratford Festival of Canada, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, at his family's home, Annaghmakerrig, in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Life and career:Guthrie...
. Tanya Moiseiwitsch
Tanya Moiseiwitsch
Tanya Moiseiwitsch, OC was an English theatre designer.Born in London, the daughter of Daisy Kennedy, an Australian concert violinist and Benno Moiseiwitsch, a famous Ukrainian classical pianist, she attended the Central School of Arts and Crafts...
, who had been involved in designing Guthrie’s theatres, was the designer. The architects Renton Howard and Wood were engaged and the building itself began to take shape in 1969. It was completed in two years, on time for the opening performance in November 1971 of Fanfare an evening’s entertainment comprising -children participating in an improvised scene, Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
’s Swan Song with Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
and Edward Petherbridge
Edward Petherbridge
Edward Petherbridge is a British actor. Among his many roles, he portrayed Lord Peter Wimsey in several screen adaptations of Dorothy L...
and a Music Hall Finale with a Sheffield Brass Band.
This demonstrated the versatility of the stage, which has since been adapted to Dance, Musical performance, as well as classical and modern theatre, and receives touring productions as well as hosting squash and spectacularly, the World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
.
The audience sits on three sides but no member is more than the length of a cricket wicket - 22 yards (20 metres) - from the performer, or indeed a snooker ball. Consequently although it seats 980 people the spectator has a intimate relationship with the activity on stage. Colin George and the Administrator David Brayshaw persuaded the Gulbenkian Foundation to finance for the first time the building of a professional theatre - the 400 seat Studio, which opened with the main house.
In 2001 the Crucible was awarded the Barclays ‘Theatre of the Year Award,’ and is a Grade II listed building.
The building went through a £15 million refurbishment between 2007 and late 2009 – opening during that period only for the 2008 and 2009 World Snooker Championships.
The Crucible reopened as a theatre on 11 February 2010 with a production of Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
's An Enemy of the People
An Enemy of the People
An Enemy of the People is an 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen wrote it in response to the public outcry against his play Ghosts, which at that time was considered scandalous...
, with the official reopening by the Earl of Wessex
Earl of Wessex
The title Earl of Wessex has been created twice in British history, once in the pre-Conquest Anglo-Saxon nobility of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom...
on 18 February 2010.
Theatre
The Crucible is a producing theatreTheatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, meaning shows are designed and rehearsed in-house. These productions are normally overseen by the Sheffield Theatres
Sheffield Theatres
Sheffield Theatres is a theatre complex in Sheffield, South Yorkshire comprising three theatres: the Crucible, the Lyceum and the Crucible Studio...
Group.
Sports venue
The World Snooker ChampionshipWorld Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
tournament has been played annually in the Crucible since 1977. The venue has also hosted championships of other indoor sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s, such as table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
and squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
.
Players with 1000 frames played at the Crucible
- Stephen HendryStephen HendryStephen Gordon Hendry, MBE is a Scottish professional snooker player. In 1990, he was the youngest-ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. He has won the World Championship a record seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998, and again...
(7-time tournament champion), - Steve DavisSteve DavisSteve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
(6-time tournament champion), - Jimmy WhiteJimmy WhiteJames Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,...
(6-time tournament finalist), - John Higgins (4-time tournament champion),
- Ronnie O'SullivanRonnie O'SullivanRonald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
(3-time tournament champion), - John ParrottJohn ParrottJohn Parrott MBE is an English professional snooker player and TV personality.He won the World Snooker Championship in 1991, defeating Jimmy White in the final. Two years earlier he had lost 3–18 to Steve Davis, the heaviest final defeat in modern times...
(1991 tournament champion).