Workington Opera House

The Workington Opera House, or The Opera as it was known, is a purpose built theatre located in Workington, Cumbria, England. Originally built as the Queen’s Jubilee Hall & Opera House it was gutted by fire in 1927 and rebuilt with a fine wide auditorium, and Ornamental ceiling with seating for 1200. The theatre has good sightlines and a large stage and currently sits empty after its former use as a bingo hall ended in 2004.

The Workington Opera House - Pre 1927.

History
The Workington Opera House - 2010.

The theatre was designed by T. L. Banks & Townsend and had a small auditorium with two balconies accommodating 1,130 people. The theatre was also equipped with a small stage with a proscenium width of 11 metres, a depth of 9.14 metres and a grid height of 14 metres. An orchestra pit for 16 musicians was also included.[1]

  • Other names:
    • Queen's Jubilee Hall
  • Dates:
    • Opened 1888. Date of first use not known.
    • 1888 - Design/Construction:
      • T.L. Banks & Townsend - Architect
    • 1897-1900 - Alteration: reconstructed after explosion (architect unknown)
    • 1927-1930 - Alteration: reconstructed after fire (architect unknown)
    • 1963-1970 - Alteration: façade rebuilt (architect unknown)

Current owners

Graves (Cumberland) Ltd currently own the building and have planning permission for 5 years to replace the theatre with retail and residential units. Graves own many different assets across Cumbria including cinemas, bingo halls and in the past they owned and ran a number of theatres.[2]

SAVE Workington Opera House logo.

The future of the theatre

The Workington Opera House is now under threat of demolition to be replaced with retail units and flats.[3] The Save Workington Opera House group are fighting to have this building made available to the town of Workington as a working civic theatre that the community can be proud of.[4]

Specifications
  • Capacities:
    • Original: 1,330
    • After 1950: 1,219
  • Listings:
    • Grade not listed
  • Stage type:
  • Dimensions
    • Stage dimensions:
      • Depth: 9.14m
      • Proscenium width: 11m
      • Height to grid: 14m
      • Orchestra pit: Original, for 16 musicians[5]

References
  1. "The Opera House, Pow Street, Workington, Cumbria". arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  2. "GRAVES (CUMBERLAND) LIMITED". Companies in the UK. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  3. "Civic trust backs plans to demolish Workington's Opera House". News and Star. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  4. "Save Workington Opera House". Workington Opera House. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  5. "Opera House (Workington)". Theatres Trust. Retrieved 2010-05-02.

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