The Playhouse (Cheltenham)
Encyclopedia
The Playhouse Theatre Cheltenham is a community theatre in Cheltenham
, United Kingdom
. It is a registered charity and has been run by volunteers since 1957.
The Playhouse Theatre started life as the Montpellier Baths in 1806. The building was converted to a swimming pool in 1898 and then to a theatre in 1945.
In 1716, the first Mineral springs were discovered in Cheltenham, transforming it into a spa. Lords and ladies from all over the country came to drink the waters because it was so healthy. In 1788, His Majesty King George III came to Cheltenham to drink the waters.
1806 saw the opening of the Baths built by Henry Thompson. It boasted 14 warm baths, fitted with marble and Dutch tile, one large cold bath plus smaller ones and a boiler capable of heating up to 190°F.
In 1898, the baths were bought by the Cheltenham Corporation and converted into a swimming pool and slipper baths. Just before the end of the second World War, the Cheltenham Council realised the town’s lack of theatrical facilities, and converted the swimming pool into a theatre.
In April 1945, the first play was performed - Arms and the Man
by George Bernard Shaw
.
In 2007, the theatre was flooded twice within the space of five weeks, along with many other parts of the UK. Only two performances had to be cancelled.
In 2008, the auditorium and green room underwent a £340,000 refurbishment, half the funding of which came from Cheltenham Borough Council, together with additional donations from Summerfield Charitable Trust, Trefoil Trust, a generous bequest from a founder member, several of the resident non-professional companies and the charities own fundraising efforts. Full details can be found at the official blog (see link below).
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is a registered charity and has been run by volunteers since 1957.
Societies
The following companies frequently present work at The Playhouse:- Ad Hoc Theatre Co
- Canvas Theatre Company (Professional Training)
- Celtic Circle (Irish Dancing)
- Cheltenham Children's Theatre Association
- Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society (CODS)
- The Cotswold Savoyards
- Deep End Theatre Company
- Dreamshed Theatre Company (professional)
- Focus Theatre Company (professional)
- Friends Theatre Company
- Jacob's Well Productions
- The Playhouse Company
- Theatre Studio
The building & History
For full details please see official version on the theatre website.The Playhouse Theatre started life as the Montpellier Baths in 1806. The building was converted to a swimming pool in 1898 and then to a theatre in 1945.
In 1716, the first Mineral springs were discovered in Cheltenham, transforming it into a spa. Lords and ladies from all over the country came to drink the waters because it was so healthy. In 1788, His Majesty King George III came to Cheltenham to drink the waters.
1806 saw the opening of the Baths built by Henry Thompson. It boasted 14 warm baths, fitted with marble and Dutch tile, one large cold bath plus smaller ones and a boiler capable of heating up to 190°F.
In 1898, the baths were bought by the Cheltenham Corporation and converted into a swimming pool and slipper baths. Just before the end of the second World War, the Cheltenham Council realised the town’s lack of theatrical facilities, and converted the swimming pool into a theatre.
In April 1945, the first play was performed - Arms and the Man
Arms and the Man
Arms and the Man is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw, whose title comes from the opening words of Virgil's Aeneid in Latin:"Arma virumque cano" ....
by George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
.
In 2007, the theatre was flooded twice within the space of five weeks, along with many other parts of the UK. Only two performances had to be cancelled.
In 2008, the auditorium and green room underwent a £340,000 refurbishment, half the funding of which came from Cheltenham Borough Council, together with additional donations from Summerfield Charitable Trust, Trefoil Trust, a generous bequest from a founder member, several of the resident non-professional companies and the charities own fundraising efforts. Full details can be found at the official blog (see link below).