Little Theatre Gateshead
Encyclopedia
The Little Theatre Gateshead is Gateshead
's only theatre. It was built during World War II
, thanks to the generosity of sisters Ruth
, Sylvia and M. Hope Dodds. It is believed that the theatre is the only one built in Britain during the war. The building process was interrupted by hostilities after the site was acquired in 1939, being at one time requisitioned as a barrage balloon
station, and at another having windows and doors damaged by a bomb falling in Saltwell Park
, just across the road. The opening performance on October 13th 1943 was A Midsummer Night's Dream
.
The theatre was built on a derelict site which would have housed numbers 1 & 2, Saltwell View. Number 3 was purchased and incorporated into the new building immediately. The theatre and the Progressive Players went from strength to strength, but for several years in the 1960s and 70s, the threat of compulsory purchase and demolition to make way for a new road hung over everything. Once the threat was removed, plans to improve and update could advance. In 1989, number 4 was purchased to ease overcrowding and permit expansion of facilities. It now houses a rehearsal space cum coffee bar cum art gallery on the ground floor, while most of the upper floors are devoted to wardrobe storage and workroom.
In between Progressive Players productions, the premises are available for hire, eg by schools, colleges, other dramatic or operatic societies, for performances, and by other bodies for meetings or conferences. The theatre is largely self-supporting.
, but the group is now non-political.
At a meeting of the British Drama League in the twenties, the Progressives' representative handed over to George Bernard Shaw
royalties of seven shillings and fourpence, possibly on the takings of Pygmalion
which had raked in the grand sum of £16.00. A short time later, the Progressives followed Shaw's advice to turn themselves into a company.
The group and the Theatre are still going strong, thanks in part to the generosity of Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, Northern Arts and the National Lottery Commission
, but mainly to the continued efforts of the members and the support of their loyal audiences.
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
's only theatre. It was built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, thanks to the generosity of sisters Ruth
Ruth Dodds
Ruth Dodds lived in Gateshead, England and was an author, playwright and councillor of Newcastle upon Tyne. She was made the first woman freeman of Gateshead in 1965....
, Sylvia and M. Hope Dodds. It is believed that the theatre is the only one built in Britain during the war. The building process was interrupted by hostilities after the site was acquired in 1939, being at one time requisitioned as a barrage balloon
Barrage balloon
A barrage balloon is a large balloon tethered with metal cables, used to defend against low-level aircraft attack by damaging the aircraft on collision with the cables, or at least making the attacker's approach more difficult. Some versions carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up...
station, and at another having windows and doors damaged by a bomb falling in Saltwell Park
Saltwell Park
Saltwell Park is a Victorian park situated in Gateshead, England. The major part of the park was designed by Edward Kemp. Also known as the "People's Park" and part of Gateshead's heritage since it opened to the public in 1876, the park is steeped in history...
, just across the road. The opening performance on October 13th 1943 was A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
.
The theatre was built on a derelict site which would have housed numbers 1 & 2, Saltwell View. Number 3 was purchased and incorporated into the new building immediately. The theatre and the Progressive Players went from strength to strength, but for several years in the 1960s and 70s, the threat of compulsory purchase and demolition to make way for a new road hung over everything. Once the threat was removed, plans to improve and update could advance. In 1989, number 4 was purchased to ease overcrowding and permit expansion of facilities. It now houses a rehearsal space cum coffee bar cum art gallery on the ground floor, while most of the upper floors are devoted to wardrobe storage and workroom.
In between Progressive Players productions, the premises are available for hire, eg by schools, colleges, other dramatic or operatic societies, for performances, and by other bodies for meetings or conferences. The theatre is largely self-supporting.
Progressive Players
The theatre is home to the Progressive Players Ltd. (founded in 1920, and therefore currently (2010) celebrating their ninetieth anniversary) who produce ten plays per year. The roots of the Progressives were in the Gateshead branch of the Independent Labour PartyIndependent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
, but the group is now non-political.
At a meeting of the British Drama League in the twenties, the Progressives' representative handed over to George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
royalties of seven shillings and fourpence, possibly on the takings of Pygmalion
Pygmalion (play)
Pygmalion: A Romance in Five Acts is a play by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. Professor of phonetics Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can train a bedraggled Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, to pass for a duchess at an ambassador's garden party by teaching her to assume a veneer of...
which had raked in the grand sum of £16.00. A short time later, the Progressives followed Shaw's advice to turn themselves into a company.
The group and the Theatre are still going strong, thanks in part to the generosity of Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, Northern Arts and the National Lottery Commission
National Lottery Commission
The National Lottery Commission is the non-departmental public body set up on 1 April 1999 under the National Lottery Act 1998 to regulate the National Lottery...
, but mainly to the continued efforts of the members and the support of their loyal audiences.