Rugby Theatre

Rugby Theatre is an amateur theatre in Rugby, Warwickshire, located in Henry Street in the town centre.[1]

Rugby Theatre
Website
www.rugbytheatre.co.uk

The building which the theatre is based in on Henry Street was first opened as a 550 seat cinema called The Empire in 1913, being renamed as The Scala in 1923. In 1946 the cinema was taken over by the rival Granada company and closed.[2]

In 1946 the Rugby Amateur Theatre Society was formed with the intention of founding a permanent theatre in the town, in 1947 they obtained the former cinema and set about converting it into a theatre, re-opening it as such in 1949.[2] Among the founders of the theatre was Harry Pigott-Smith, father of famous actor Tim Pigott-Smith.[3] Today the theatre society has over 500 members.[4]

The main theatre has 270 seats, and puts on up to twelve live shows a year, ranging from classical drama to musicals, as well as hosting musical entertainments, and showing up to 20 films a year in the small cinema.[4][5]

The theatre is a member of the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain, as well as being affiliated to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association and the Association of British Theatre Technicians.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Rugby Theatre". BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  2. Rugby: Aspects of The Past, Volume 11. Rugby Local History Research Group. 2020. pp. 39–40.
  3. "Former Advertiser reporter remembers award-winning Rugby actor best known for his police chief role". Warwickshire World. Rugby Advertiser. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  4. "Rugby Theatre history article". VisitorUK. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  5. "Directory of attractions - Rugby Theatre". The Rugby Town. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

52.374129°N 1.260282°W / 52.374129; -1.260282

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