Brighton Dome

Last updated

Brighton Dome
Brighton Dome.jpg
Church Street facade (2013)
Brighton Dome
Location Brighton, England
Coordinates 50°49′24″N0°08′18″W / 50.8234°N 0.1384°W / 50.8234; -0.1384
Owner Brighton & Hove City Council
Designation Grade I
Capacity 1,700 seats (2002–present)
2,100 seats (1935–1999)
2,500 seats (1867–1934)
Construction
Opened24 June 1867
Renovated1934–1935, 1999–2002
Expanded1935
Reopened18 March 2002
ArchitectRobert Atkinson (1934–1935)
Website
brightondome.org
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameThe Corn Exchange and Dome Theatre
Designated13 October 1952
Reference no. 1380398

The Brighton Dome is an arts venue in Brighton, England, that contains the Concert Hall, the Corn Exchange and the Studio Theatre (formerly the Pavilion Theatre). All three venues are linked to the rest of the Royal Pavilion Estate by a tunnel to the Royal Pavilion in Pavilion Gardens and through shared corridors to Brighton Museum. The Brighton Dome is a Grade I listed building. [1]

Contents

History

Design and construction

The Stables (now the Concert Hall) and the Riding School (now the Corn Exchange) were commissioned by the Prince Regent to the designs of William Porden in the early 19th century. [1]

Concert Hall

The Concert Hall from Pavilion Gardens The Dome from Pavilion Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 368526.jpg
The Concert Hall from Pavilion Gardens

The Concert Hall was commissioned as the Prince Regent's stables and was intended to hold 44 horses in a circular stable arrangement with space for the groomsmen on the balcony level above. The design was based on the Halle au Ble in Paris which had been built in 1782. [2] The central cupola, 80 feet (24 m) in diameter and 65 feet (20 m) in height, later gave the building its name The Dome. [3] In the centre of the room was a large lotus-shaped fountain which was used to water the horses. [4] The stables were occupied by 1806 and the exterior finished in 1808. [1]

In 1850, Queen Victoria, who had inherited the estate, sold the Royal Pavilion Estate to the town for £50,000. A number of different uses were proposed for the Concert Hall site: these included a law court and a swimming baths. The vote to turn the Concert Hall into an assembly rooms was passed by a very small majority. In 1866 plans were approved by the Pavilion Committee and work began to the designs of Philip Lockwood. The designs featured richly coloured paintings, stained glass windows and a large gas powered chandelier formed the centrepiece to the room. Measuring 31.6 feet (9.6 m) in height and 14 feet (4.3 m) in diameter, it had over 520 gas-powered jets. In 1888 the central chandelier was taken down, thought because of the expensive running costs; however customers reported the room was now too dim and so parts of the chandelier were rehung. [4]

Additional work began to improve the entrance hall and the interior of the building was undertaken to the designs of Robert Atkinson in 1934. [1] Concert Hall events included weekly Methodist services on Sunday evenings, which attracted large crowds in the post-war period. In the 1960s and 1970s, these services were led by Rev. Frank Thewlis. [5]

A major refurbishment of the complex was undertaken between 1999 and 2002. The improvements, which cost £22 million, included a state-of-the-art acoustic system in the Concert Hall, new and improved seating, stage lifts and improved foyer facilities. The renovated building was re-opened by the Princess Royal in 2002. [6]

Corn Exchange

The entrance to the Corn Exchange The Corn Exchange, Church Street, BN1 (geograph 3120666).jpg
The entrance to the Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange was commissioned as the Prince Regent's riding school. The riding school measured 174 feet (53 m) long, 58 feet (18 m) wide, and 34 feet (10 m) high. [7] On 1 October 1868 the riding school officially became the town's corn exchange. [4] A large sculpture of the goddess of corn Ceres by the artist James Woodford was installed in the entrance in 1934. [8]

The Studio Theatre

The Studio Theatre stands on the site of stables which were built for Maria Fitzherbert, a long-term companion of the Prince Regent, in 1808. The stables were later demolished and, Supper Rooms were built on the site to the designs of Robert Atkinson and completed in 1935. It was converted into a theatre shortly afterwards. [9]

Later history

During the First World War the Dome, as well as the Pavilion, was used to house injured Indian soldiers. It was thought that they would feel more at home in the Indian surroundings. Between 1 December 1914 and 15 February 1916 over 4,000 wounded Indian soldiers were nursed back to health at the makeshift hospitals set up inside the buildings of the Royal Pavilion estate. Three operating theatres were installed, one inside Brighton Dome itself. [4]

The complex became a popular venue for concerts: the band, The Who , performed there in April 1967, [10] and, the suite that would become The Dark Side of the Moon was premièred at the Dome by Pink Floyd on 20 January 1972. [11]

Brighton Dome staged the Eurovision Song Contest on 6 April 1974, when ABBA won for Sweden with the song "Waterloo". [12] The UK's national selection show Eurovision: You Decide was held in the venue on 7 February 2018, hosted by Mel Giedroyc and Måns Zelmerlöw. [13]

The Dome Organ

One of the Dome's most famous features is its pipe organ. The first pipe organ in the Dome's Concert Hall was built in 1870 by the famous London firm of Henry Willis & Sons to a specification of forty-four stops spread over four manuals and pedals. [14] This instrument was removed in 1935 for the great rebuilding of the theatre and was never returned, but broken up for parts. The present instrument, which replaced it in 1935, was built by the firm of Hill, Norman and Beard. This organ has four manuals and 178 stops obtained by extension and borrowing of numerous ranks, plus numerous percussion effects. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Pavilion</span> Former royal residence located in Brighton, England

The Royal Pavilion, and surrounding gardens, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, is a Grade I listed former royal residence located in Brighton, England. Beginning in 1787, it was built in three stages as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became the Prince Regent in 1811, and King George IV in 1820. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century. The current appearance of the Pavilion, with its domes and minarets, is the work of architect John Nash, who extended the building starting in 1815. George IV's successors William IV and Victoria also used the Pavilion, but Queen Victoria decided that Osborne House should be the royal seaside retreat, and the Pavilion was sold to the city of Brighton in 1850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Albert Hall</span> Concert hall in South Kensington, London

The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's Hall, Liverpool</span> Historic building in Liverpool, England

St George's Hall is a building on St George's Place, opposite Lime Street railway station in the centre of Liverpool, England. Opened in 1854, it is a Neoclassical building which contains concert halls and law courts, and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. On the east side of the hall, between it and the railway station, is St George's Plateau and on the west side are St John's Gardens. The hall is included in the William Brown Street conservation area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Pier</span> Ruined 19th century pier in Brighton, England

The West Pier is a ruined pier in Brighton, England. It was designed by Eugenius Birch and opened in 1866. It was the first pier to be Grade I listed in England but has become increasingly derelict since its closure to the public in 1975. As of 2023 only a partial metal framework remains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Holland (architect)</span> English architect

Henry Holland was an architect to the English nobility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Symphonic organ</span> Kind of organ

The symphonic organ is a style of pipe organ that flourished during the first three decades of the 20th century in town halls and other secular public venues, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. It has roots in 19th-century Europe, and is a variation of the classical pipe organ. It features expanded capabilities, with many pipes imitative of orchestral instruments, and with multiple expressive divisions and organ console controls for seamlessly adjusting volume and tone, generally with electric organ actions and winding. These expansions let the organist approximate a conductor's power to shape the tonal textures of Romantic music and orchestral transcriptions. These organs are generally concert instruments as opposed to church organs. The symphonic organ has seen a revival in the US, Europe and Japan, particularly since the 1980s.

William Porden was a versatile English architect who worked for the 1st Earl Grosvenor and the Prince Regent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usher Hall</span> Concert hall in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

The Usher Hall is a concert hall in the West End of Edinburgh, Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,200 people in its recently restored auditorium, which is well loved by performers due to its acoustics. The Hall is flanked by The Royal Lyceum Theatre to the south and The Traverse Theatre to the north. Historic Environment Scotland has registered the Hall with Category A listed building status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regent Theatre (Sydney)</span> Former cinema and entertainment venue in Sydney, Australia

The Regent Theatre was a heritage-listed cinema and entertainment venue in George Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, built in 1928 as a flagship for Hoyts, and was demolished in 1988 by property developer Leon Fink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent</span> Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England

The Regent Theatre is a theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Constructed in 1929 as a cinema, it is one of several theatres in the city centre and one of two operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The building was converted for full-time use as a theatre in 1999, and since then has hosted a number of shows and musicals. The theatre is also the northern base for the Glyndebourne Touring Opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter Gardens, Blackpool</span> UK entertainment complex (opened 1878)

The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which includes a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities. Opened in 1878, it is a Grade II* listed building, operated by Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited on behalf of Blackpool Council, which purchased the property from Leisure Parcs Ltd as part of a £40 million deal in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadogan Hall</span> Concert hall in Chelsea, London

Cadogan Hall is a 950-seat capacity concert hall in Sloane Terrace in Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Brighton</span> Church

St Peter's Church is a church in Brighton in the English city of Brighton and Hove. It is near the centre of the city, on an island between two major roads, the A23 London Road and A270 Lewes Road. Built from 1824–28 to a design by Sir Charles Barry, it is arguably the finest example of the pre-Victorian Gothic Revival style. It is a Grade II* listed building. It was the parish church of Brighton from 1873 to 2007 and is sometimes unofficially referred to as "Brighton's cathedral".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riviera Theatre (North Tonawanda, New York)</span> Music venue and movie theater in North Tonawanda, New York, United States

The Riviera Theatre is a historic, 1140 seat entertainment venue in North Tonawanda, New York. The theatre hosts live concerts, theatre, dance shows, and movies. The Riviera's “Mighty Wurlitzer” theatre organ has been restored, is maintained by volunteers, and is famed as being one of two original Wurlitzer demonstrator organs, which the company would use to show off to potential clients in the height of the silent film era.

Brighton and Hove has numerous notable pipe organs, from the small early 19th-century organs to the large 20th-century instruments in the large churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Hall, Nottingham</span> Concert hall in England

The Albert Hall is a conference and concert venue situated close to the centre of the city of Nottingham in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Compton (organ builder)</span> British organ builder (1876–1957)

John Compton (1876–1957), born in Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire was a pipe organ builder. His business based in Nottingham and London flourished between 1902 and 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton and Hove city centre</span> Human settlement in England

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southampton Guildhall</span>

Southampton Guildhall (branded the O2 Guildhall Southampton) is a multipurpose venue which forms the East Wing of the Civic Centre in Southampton, England. There are three venues in the Guildhall catering for various event formats: the Guildhall itself, the Solent Suite and a lecture theatre.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Historic England. "The Corn Exchange and Dome Theatre (1380398)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  2. Genouillac, Henri Gourdon de (1881). Paris à travers les siècles: Histoire nationale de Paris et des Parisiens depuis la fondation de Lutèce jusq'à nos jours (in French). F. Roy. p. 274. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  3. "The Royal Stables & Riding House / History & Heritage / About / Brighton Dome". brightondome.org. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About The Brighton Dome". The Brighton Journal. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  5. Minutes of the Methodist Conference, 1991. Methodist Conference Office, Methodist Church of Great Britain. p. 59.
  6. "Princess Anne unveils new Dome". The Argus. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  7. Memories evoked by reconstruction of historic dome and corn exchange. Vol. 46. Municipal Journal, Public Works Engineer and Contractors' Guide. 1937. p. 783.
  8. "Corn Exchange & Studio Theatre Restoration Brings Statue Back to Life". Brighton Dome. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  9. "The Studio Theatre". Brighton Dome. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  10. Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the WHO 1958–1978. Sterling Publishing Company. p. 304. ISBN   978-1402766916.
  11. Miles, Barry; Mabbett, Andy (1994). Pink Floyd - The Visual Documentary. London: Omnibus. p. Unnumbered; listed by date. ISBN   0-7119-4109-2.
  12. bbc.co.uk: Abba: Why the UK gave the Swedish band 'nul points' at Eurovision. 19 April 2021
  13. "UK national selection to be held in Brighton - with a Swedish twist!". 16 November 2017.
  14. "The National Pipe Organ Register - The Brighton Dome Willis".
  15. "The National Pipe Organ Register - The Brighton Dome Willis".

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Brighton Dome, Brighton, East Sussex at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by Eurovision Song Contest
Venue

1974
Succeeded by