Grimsby Auditorium
Encyclopedia
Grimsby Auditorium is a theatre situated on Cromwell Road, in Grimsby
, North East Lincolnshire
. With a seated audience capacity of 1,200 the Grimsby Auditorium is the largest professional theatre
in Lincolnshire
, and one of the larger theatres in the East of England
. Built in 1995, it is managed by the venues division of Ambassador Theatre Group
on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council.
s, theatre shows, social events, conferences and television broadcasts. The main auditorium houses retractable raked seating
, which also permits the use of the auditorium as an arena
style venue and sports hall, with different seating formations. Grimsby Auditorium has a maximum seating capacity
of up to 1,200 patrons seated and rising to 2000 standing, the actual number varies depending on the layout and use of the main auditorium.
The auditorium stages a professional pantomime
once per year, featuring both celebrities and local talent. This was previously produced by UK Productions and more recently by Pelé Productions. Recent pantomimes have included Peter Pan
, Jack and the Beanstalk
and Cinderella
.
.
The apron is an area of stage that extends beyond the house curtain
and is visible to the audience. The apron at Grimsby Auditorium measures 22 metres in width and 2.5 metres in depth. Extensions can also be constructed to extend the stage further into the Auditorium
, a technique employed to create a thrust style stage
or a catwalk for fashion shows.
The proscenium is the 'archway' that frames the front of the stage area. In more traditional theatres, the proscenium will be a built in feature of the theatre, however the Grimsby Auditorium proscenium is created using fabric curtains. Due to the design of the theatre, Grimsby Auditrium has a flexible proscenium, which can be set at a minimum of 11 metres in width, but can also be made wider depending on the size of the production being staged. The proscenium has a fixed height of 6.1 metres.
The stage
is the actual performance area of a theatre. Including the apron, the Grimsby Auditorium stage measures a total depth of 11m, with a measurement of 8.5 metres from the line of the house curtain to the cyclorama
or back wall. The width of the stage depends on the size of the production being staged as the curtains which form the proscenium and wings are flexible, meaning the stage can be made to appear wider or narrower.
The steel grid holding the lighting rig is suspended above the stage at a height of 8.1 metres. An orchestra pit
can be created at floor level in various formations.
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
, North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire is a unitary authority in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, bordering the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire...
. With a seated audience capacity of 1,200 the Grimsby Auditorium is the largest professional theatre
Theater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, and one of the larger theatres in the East of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Built in 1995, it is managed by the venues division of Ambassador Theatre Group
Ambassador Theatre Group
The Ambassador Theatre Group is an independent operator of theatres in the United Kingdom. Formed in 1992, by Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire,OBE, it acquired the Live Nation theatre group in November 2009.-List of theatres:...
on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council.
Overview
Grimsby Auditorium was designed as a flexible, multi-purpose venue to host a variety of live events including concertConcert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, theatre shows, social events, conferences and television broadcasts. The main auditorium houses retractable raked seating
Stadium seating
Stadium seating or theater seating is a characteristic seating arrangement that is most commonly associated with performing-arts venues, and derives its name from stadiums, which typically use this arrangement...
, which also permits the use of the auditorium as an arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
style venue and sports hall, with different seating formations. Grimsby Auditorium has a maximum seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of up to 1,200 patrons seated and rising to 2000 standing, the actual number varies depending on the layout and use of the main auditorium.
The auditorium stages a professional 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...
once per year, featuring both celebrities and local talent. This was previously produced by UK Productions and more recently by Pelé Productions. Recent pantomimes have included Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
, Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack and the Beanstalk is a folktale said by English historian Francis Palgrave to be an oral legend that arrived in England with the Vikings. The tale is closely associated with the tale of Jack the Giant-killer. It is known under a number of versions...
and Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
.
Technical
The Grimsby Auditorium is most commonly used as a traditional proscenium style theatreProscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
.
The apron is an area of stage that extends beyond the house curtain
Theater drapes and stage curtains
Theater drapes and stage curtains are large pieces of cloth that are designed to mask backstage areas from spectators. They come in various types, each designed for a different purpose, though most are made from black or other dark colored, light-absorbing material such as heavyweight...
and is visible to the audience. The apron at Grimsby Auditorium measures 22 metres in width and 2.5 metres in depth. Extensions can also be constructed to extend the stage further into the Auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
, a technique employed to create a thrust style stage
Thrust stage
In theatre, a thrust stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its up stage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the audience than a proscenium, while retaining the utility of a backstage area...
or a catwalk for fashion shows.
The proscenium is the 'archway' that frames the front of the stage area. In more traditional theatres, the proscenium will be a built in feature of the theatre, however the Grimsby Auditorium proscenium is created using fabric curtains. Due to the design of the theatre, Grimsby Auditrium has a flexible proscenium, which can be set at a minimum of 11 metres in width, but can also be made wider depending on the size of the production being staged. The proscenium has a fixed height of 6.1 metres.
The stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
is the actual performance area of a theatre. Including the apron, the Grimsby Auditorium stage measures a total depth of 11m, with a measurement of 8.5 metres from the line of the house curtain to the cyclorama
Cyclorama (theater)
A cyclorama is a large curtain or wall, often concave, positioned at the back of the stage area. It was popularized in the German theater of the 19th century and continues in common usage today in theaters throughout the world...
or back wall. The width of the stage depends on the size of the production being staged as the curtains which form the proscenium and wings are flexible, meaning the stage can be made to appear wider or narrower.
The steel grid holding the lighting rig is suspended above the stage at a height of 8.1 metres. An orchestra pit
Orchestra pit
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music or in cases when incidental music is required...
can be created at floor level in various formations.