Category / History of the Arts Centre

Part 5: Into the 21st Century Over the ensuing years there have been major front of house improvements.  Land at the rear was acquired in 1995.  2001 saw the Phoenix Room extension. …

Part 4: A Phoenix From the Ashes In the early hours of Thursday 24th June 1965 a catastrophic fire broke out in the next-door premises occupied by a builders merchants and an…

Part 3: Grand Opening of the Old Market Playhouse The Old Market Playhouse had its Grand Opening in November 1957 with a performance of “The Sleeping Monk” with proceeds going to the…

Part 2: The Purchase and Conversion of the Upper Market Hall They were also busy getting “Charley’s Aunt” ready for Shaftesbury’s Festival of Britain programme in the summer of 1951 and had…