Broadway Theatre, Catford
Encyclopedia
The Broadway Theatre, Catford is a theatre
on Rushey Green, Catford
in the London Borough of Lewisham
. A grade II* listed building, the theatre was built in 1932 and is an outstanding example of Art Deco
design. The architects were Bradshaw Gass & Hope
; the slightly Gothic
features were intended to relate to the adjacent Gothic Revival Town Hall which has since been demolished.
It has two auditoriums, an 800-seat main theatre and a small 80-seat studio theatre. Its programme consists of a diverse mix of theatre and music, including a pantomime
season featuring star names, stand up comedy, nostalgia shows, drama and children's theatre. The Broadway Theatre is particularly successful at presenting black theatre and is home to Britain's leading black theatre company, Blue Mountain. Since a refurbishment in 2001, it has also presented a regular programme of films, it has a residency with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
and it is home to the acclaimed Lewisham Youth Theatre. The Broadway theatre is owned by the London Borough of Lewisham, and its artistic director is Martin Costello.
's Popcorn
the studio has hosted numerous productions including Cabaret
, Trainspotting, A Clockwork Orange
and their critically acclaimed take on Frank McGuinness
's Someone Who'll Watch Over Me
.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
on Rushey Green, Catford
Catford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
in the London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
. A grade II* listed building, the theatre was built in 1932 and is an outstanding example of Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
design. The architects were Bradshaw Gass & Hope
Bradshaw Gass & Hope
Bradshaw Gass & Hope is an English firm of architects founded in 1862 by Jonas James Bradshaw . The style "Bradshaw Gass & Hope" was adopted after J. J...
; the slightly Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
features were intended to relate to the adjacent Gothic Revival Town Hall which has since been demolished.
It has two auditoriums, an 800-seat main theatre and a small 80-seat studio theatre. Its programme consists of a diverse mix of theatre and music, including a pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
season featuring star names, stand up comedy, nostalgia shows, drama and children's theatre. The Broadway Theatre is particularly successful at presenting black theatre and is home to Britain's leading black theatre company, Blue Mountain. Since a refurbishment in 2001, it has also presented a regular programme of films, it has a residency with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
and it is home to the acclaimed Lewisham Youth Theatre. The Broadway theatre is owned by the London Borough of Lewisham, and its artistic director is Martin Costello.
Broadway Studio
The Broadway's Studio Theatre is now regarded as one of London's finest fringe venues, with a continuous programme of highly acclaimed productions featuring professional actors and directors. Since 2001's production of Ben EltonBen Elton
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
's Popcorn
Popcorn (play)
Popcorn is a 1998 play by English author Ben Elton adapted from his novel of the same title....
the studio has hosted numerous productions including Cabaret
Cabaret (musical)
Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
, Trainspotting, A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange is a 1962 dystopian novella by Anthony Burgess. The novel contains an experiment in language: the characters often use an argot called "Nadsat", derived from Russian....
and their critically acclaimed take on Frank McGuinness
Frank McGuinness
Professor Frank McGuinness is an award-winning Irish playwright and poet. As well as his own works, which include Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, he is recognised for a "strong record of adapting literary classics, having translated the plays of Racine, Sophocles, Ibsen and...
's Someone Who'll Watch Over Me
Someone Who'll Watch Over Me
Someone Who'll Watch over Me is a play written by Irish dramatist Frank McGuinness. The play focuses on the trials and tribulations of an Irishman, an Englishman and an American who are kidnapped and held hostage by unseen Arabs in Lebanon. As the three men strive for survival they also strive to...
.