The Blakehay Theatre is a 207-seat theatre in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England. Its building was originally a 19th-century Baptist church.
 The Blakehay Theatre which was previously the Wadham Street Baptist Church | |
 | |
| Address | Wadham Street Weston-super-Mare England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°21′04″N 2°58′49″W / 51.351197°N 2.980339°W |
| Owner | Weston-super-Mare Town Council |
| Capacity | 207 seat |
| Current use | Community Theatre |
| Construction | |
| Years active | 10 |
| Architect | Hans Price |
| Website | |
| [1] | |
History
editThe theatre building was Weston-super-Mare's first Baptist church, built in 1850 as Wadham Street Baptist Church, and was also the town's first public building.[1][2] In 1862 Hans Price, who became the town's leading architect, was commissioned to adapt and enlarge the building.[3] The name comes from "Black Hay", a field that originally lay between the High Street and Wadham Street.[3]
During World War II the theatre was hit by incendiary bombs. After the war it was rebuilt inside the original Victorian shell. In 1985 the building ceased to be a place of worship. In 1986 the Blakehay was saved from demolition and replacement with a block of flats by the actions of the Weston-super-Mare Building Trust and run by the Civic Society who converted into a venue for amateur and professional events and public meetings.
In September 2004 Weston Town Council purchased the theatre for £195,000.[4]
- 1850 – The Blakehay is built as Wadham Street Baptist Church
- 1862 – The building is enlarged
- 1985 – The building closes as a place of worship
- 2004 – Weston-super-Mare Town Council purchases The Blakehay
- 2010 – Refurbishment begins- Work starts on refurbishing parts of the building including new toilets and bar area
- 2011 – present – The Blakehay Theatre is a community theatre for the residents and visitors of Weston-super-Mare
Current use
editThe Blakehay Theatre operates as live events venue, programming local and regional theatre, music and dance.[5] Facilities in the building include the main Auditorium, Upper Studio, Theatre Bar, two dressing rooms and a box office.
References
edit- ^ "Our History". Clarence Park Baptist Church. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
- ^ "Blakehay Theatre". Whats On Weston-super-Mare. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- ^ a b "About Us". Blakehay Theatre. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- ^ "Blakehay keys handed over to town council". The Weston Mercury. 27 September 2004. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
- ^ "Whats On". Blakehay Theatre.
