September 2019 marks the 50th anniversary since the Playhouse theatre re-opened its doors following the devastating fire which destroyed it in August 1964. It was with this in mind that I decided to do some research into the history of the theatre to find out how it came to be and what kind of entertainment it had provided before the fire and in the 50 years since.
With many star performers having graced the stage, The Playhouse has a rich history, but there have also been many times in the past when the theatre has been threatened with possible closures. It also may not have been rebuilt if members of the local council had been listened to due to the amount of money it was predicted to take to re-build it.
Thankfully, despite a public inquiry being held and protests against the cost, the Playhouse theatre was rebuilt and re-opened in 1969. Having gone through hard financial times as well as many refurbishments, the Playhouse theatre remains the longest standing theatre in the town of Weston-super-Mare and with the introduction of bigger shows; it continues to go from strength to strength.
This book will provide you with information and stories dating back to the 1940’s about The Playhouse theatre which is still loved by people today and will also give you an insight into the many stars who have appeared on the stage. These include Sir Ken Dodd, David Jason, Bob Monkhouse, Jethro and more recently Jimmy Carr, Jimmy Osmond, Russell Watson, Psychic Sally and some of Strictly’s best loved dancers such as Ian Waite & Pasha Kovalev.
I hope it will also give you a sense of pride to read about a theatre which despite being destroyed, has risen from the ashes of its past and continues to provide entertainment to all ages with a varied programme of productions including both amateur and professional.
This book is a celebration of the well-loved theatre in Weston-super-Mare known as The Playhouse.
Here’s to the next 50 years.
With many star performers having graced the stage, The Playhouse has a rich history, but there have also been many times in the past when the theatre has been threatened with possible closures. It also may not have been rebuilt if members of the local council had been listened to due to the amount of money it was predicted to take to re-build it.
Thankfully, despite a public inquiry being held and protests against the cost, the Playhouse theatre was rebuilt and re-opened in 1969. Having gone through hard financial times as well as many refurbishments, the Playhouse theatre remains the longest standing theatre in the town of Weston-super-Mare and with the introduction of bigger shows; it continues to go from strength to strength.
This book will provide you with information and stories dating back to the 1940’s about The Playhouse theatre which is still loved by people today and will also give you an insight into the many stars who have appeared on the stage. These include Sir Ken Dodd, David Jason, Bob Monkhouse, Jethro and more recently Jimmy Carr, Jimmy Osmond, Russell Watson, Psychic Sally and some of Strictly’s best loved dancers such as Ian Waite & Pasha Kovalev.
I hope it will also give you a sense of pride to read about a theatre which despite being destroyed, has risen from the ashes of its past and continues to provide entertainment to all ages with a varied programme of productions including both amateur and professional.
This book is a celebration of the well-loved theatre in Weston-super-Mare known as The Playhouse.
Here’s to the next 50 years.