| The Blakehay Theatre | |
| Address: | Wadham Street |
| City: | Weston-super-Mare |
| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 51.3512°N -2.9803°W |
| Architect: | Hans Price |
| Owner: | Weston-super-Mare Town Council |
| Capacity: | 207 seat |
| Yearsactive: | 10 |
| Currentuse: | Community Theatre |
| Website: | http://www.blakehaytheatre.co.uk |
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 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]
The 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.