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