Georgian Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees

Last updated
Georgian Theatre
Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Tees.jpg
Georgian Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees
Location Stockton-on-Tees, England
Coordinates 54°33′53″N1°18′42″W / 54.5646°N 1.3118°W / 54.5646; -1.3118
Designation Grade II listed
TypeTheatre
Capacity 200
Construction
Opened1766
Reopened2007
Website
www.teesmusicalliance.org.uk/georgiantheatre

The Georgian Theatre is a Grade II listed theatre in Stockton-on-Tees, England and is one of the oldest Georgian provincial theatres in the country (cf Bath, Norwich and Wisbech). The oldest Georgian theatre in its original working form is the Theatre Royal in Richmond, Yorkshire.

Contents

The theatre has a capacity of 200 (standing) and is situated in the 'Cultural Quarter' of Stockton town centre, which is centred on Green Dragon Yard. It is gabled with pantiled roof and approached at the south end from a cobbled passage. There is a lean-to structure at the southern end, which is relatively modern. Adjoining is a cottage which was used as a drawing room, with actors entering the theatre through a door at the stage end of the east wall. [1]

Built as Stockton's tithe barn, the building was converted to a theatre which opened from 1766 and began its new life as a touring house on the northern circuit, maintained by actors and stage managers. The theatre fell into disuse and disrepair some time during the 19th century and became a sweet factory until the late 1950s. More decline followed and the property was acquired by the local council in the 1960s before a refurbishment saw it re-opened as a community building in 1980. The building underwent a range of uses, operating more as an historic building than working venue, until 1993 when it was handed over to the Stockton Music & Arts Collective (part of the Tees Music Alliance since 2006).

A programme of capital works saw the theatre receive a much needed and long overdue makeover in 2007. Crumbling internal walls were given a new, clean finish, new toilets and dressing rooms were constructed, an efficient heating system was installed and a bright new bar area was created. The following year, the exterior of the venue, along with its neighbour Green Dragon Studios, underwent improvements to lighting and signage. The wider Green Dragon Yard and Theatre Yard areas also underwent environmental improvements, leading to greater leisure use of the area.

Today, The Georgian Theatre is managed and programmed by the Tees Music Alliance and can accommodate 200 people standing. Its unpretentious interior provides an intimate setting for a variety of types of music and entertainment are provided including live bands, jazz, folk and plays. Previous, more famous performers include Arctic Monkeys, Mystery Jets, The Kooks, James Blunt, John Cooper Clarke, Duke Special, UK Subs, The Cribs, Shaun Ryder, Clint Boon, Athlete, Jack Peñate, John Shuttleworth, Daisy Chainsaw, The Maccabees, The Charlatans, and The Chapman Family. The resident Tees Music Alliance features local artists heavily in its programme - promoting the creative engagement of local people. [2]

The studio opposite the theatre can be booked for recording and rehearsal sessions and the facility is well used. The Tees Music Alliance also organises the Stockton Weekender - a large outdoor music festival taking place in the town each summer.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yarm</span> Town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Yarm, also referred to as Yarm-on-Tees, is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. It is in Teesdale with a town centre on a small meander of the River Tees. To the south-east, it extends to the River Leven, to the south it extends into the Kirklevington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockton-on-Tees</span> Town in County Durham, England

Stockton-on-Tees, often simply referred to as Stockton, is a market town in the Stockton-on-Tees unitary authority borough of County Durham, England. With a population of 84,815 in the 2021 UK census. It is part of the Teesside and the devolved Tees Valley area, on the northern banks of the River Tees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middlesbrough</span> Town in North Yorkshire, England

Middlesbrough is a town in the Middlesbrough unitary authority borough of North Yorkshire, England. The town lies near the mouth of the River Tees and north of the North York Moors National Park. The built-up area had a population of 148,215 at the 2021 UK census. It is the largest town of the wider Teesside area, which had a population of 376,633 in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton, County Durham</span> Town and civil parish in County Durham, England

Norton, also known as Norton-on-Tees is a village in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingleby Barwick</span> Town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Ingleby Barwick is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. It is south of the River Tees and north-east of the River Leven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Theatre</span> Theatre in England

The present Richmond Theatre, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is a British Victorian theatre located on Little Green, adjacent to Richmond Green. It opened on 18 September 1899 with a performance of As You Like It. One of the finest surviving examples of the work of theatre architect Frank Matcham, the building, in red brick with buff terracotta, is listed Grade II* by Historic England. John Earl, writing in 1982, described it as "[o]f outstanding importance as the most completely preserved Matcham theatre in Greater London and one of his most satisfying interiors."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Road railway station</span> Railway station in County Durham, England

North Road is a railway station on the Tees Valley Line, which runs between Bishop Auckland and Saltburn via Darlington. The station, situated 1 mile 23 chains (2.1 km) north-west of Darlington, serves the market town of Darlington in County Durham, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golders Green Hippodrome</span> Theatre in London

The Golders Green Hippodrome was built in 1913 by Bertie Crewe as a 3,000-seat music hall, to serve North London and the new London Underground Northern line expansion into Golders Green in the London Borough of Barnet, London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's Hall, Bradford</span> Concert hall in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

St George's Hall is a strategic grade II* listed Victorian building located in the centre of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Originally designed with a seating capacity of 3,500, the hall seats up to 1,335 people and 1,550 for standing concerts. It is one of the oldest concert halls still in use in the United Kingdom. German Jewish wool merchants who had moved to Bradford because of its textile industry, partly financed the building of St George's Hall, and were instrumental in its construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradford Alhambra</span> Theatre in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

The Alhambra Theatre is a theatre in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, named after the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain, which was the place of residence of the Emir of the Emirate of Granada. It was built in 1913 at a cost of £20,000 for theatre impresario Francis Laidler, and opened on Wednesday 18 March 1914. In 1964, Bradford City Council bought the Alhambra for £78,900 and in 1974, it was designated a Grade II listed building. It underwent extensive refurbishment in 1986. Today it is a receiving house for large-scale touring theatre of all types and the main house seats 1,456.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hackney Empire</span> Theatre on Mare Street in the London Borough of Hackney, London, England

Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in Hackney in the London Borough of Hackney. Originally designed by Frank Matcham it was built in 1901 as a music hall, and expanded in 2001. Described by The Guardian as ‘the most beautiful theatre in London’ it is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Theatre Royal</span> Grade II* listed theatre in York, England

York Theatre Royal is a theatre in St Leonard's Place, in York, England, which dates back to 1744. The theatre currently seats 750 people. Whilst the theatre is traditionally a proscenium theatre, it was reconfigured for a season in 2011 to offer productions in-the-round. The theatre puts on many of its own productions, as well as hosting touring companies, one of which is Pilot Theatre, a national touring company which often co-produces its work with the theatre. Additionally the main stage and studio are regularly used by local amateur dramatic and operatic societies. York Theatre Royal was one of the co-producers of the historic York Mystery Plays 2012 which were staged in York Museum Gardens between 2–27 August. The theatre reopened on Friday 22 April 2016 following a £6million redevelopment, with a new roof, an extended and re-modelled front of house area, a refurbished and redecorated main auditorium and with major improvements to access and environmental impact.

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts is a multi form arts centre located in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England providing a 225-seat theatre and 100-seat studio space. Following calls for an arts centre in Maidenhead since the 1970s, Norden Farm eventually opened in September 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilton's Music Hall</span> Music hall in Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, London, England

Wilton's Music Hall is a Grade II* listed building in Shadwell, built as a music hall and now run as a multi-arts performance space in Graces Alley, off Cable Street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is one of very few surviving music halls and retains many original features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Somerset</span> Overview of the culture of Somerset, England

Somerset is a county in the south west of England. It has a varied cultural tradition ranging from the Arthurian legends to The Wurzels, a band specialising in Scrumpy and Western music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity Green</span>

Trinity Green is a public park located on the edge of Stockton Town Centre in Stockton-on-Tees, England. The park is dominated by the preserved ruins and Grade II* listed building of Holy Trinity Church which was gutted by fire in Autumn 1991. Trinity Green was given to the town of Stockton by Bishop William van Mildert at the start of the 19th century, and now serves a space open to the public, hosting occasional cultural and community events.

The Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) is an annual outdoor arts festival in Stockton-on-Tees, England. It includes British and international performers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARC Theatre & Arts Centre, Stockton-on-Tees</span>

ARC Theatre & Arts Centre is an organisation working from the ARC Theatre & Arts Centre in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. The organisation provides arts-based education and entertainment through partnership with other organisations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockton-on-Tees Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England

Stockton-on-Tees Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England. The building, which is the meeting place of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, is a Grade II* listed building.

References