About us

Rugby Theatre is one of the top ten amateur theatres in the country. Our 10 main productions each year are often compared to professional performances. We have our own intimate 313 seat theatre putting on a wide range of live performances from classical drama to modern plays, from farce to big budget musicals. Each year we have a spectacular youth production with over 100 young people performing.  Our theatre also hosts many outside bookings from opera to children's dancing extravaganzas; from old time music halls to celebrity speakers.  Despite our theatre being packed with live action for well over 100 days a year, we still manage to squeeze in the latest films between these shows.

There's always something going on at Rugby Theatre - something for anyone who likes a great night out in friendly and comfortable surroundings. Check out the programme (PDF 2MB) - we're sure there'll be something for you in it.

History

Rugby Amateur Theatre Society was established in 1946 under the control of a Board of Trustees. It had two initial goals: first to discuss the possibility of large scale mergers with other societies in Rugby; and second to obtain a permanent Theatre.

After lengthy discussions and successful amalgamations, the Society presented its first production: Fisherman's Rest, written by founder Dr. Raymond Owen. It was presented in 'New Big School' in 1947.

In 1949 the second goal was achieved when the Society moved into a former cinema in Henry Street and started the job of converting it to a Theatre. Further details are in The History of Rugby Theatre.

Today, Rugby Theatre is a flourishing society with around 500 members.

We are no longer solely a Theatre - we are now as much a small business with our own Management structure. Each year we stage 10 live productions (to a strict timetable) and several concerts, we present around 20 films and host a number of outside lettings. For the past few years we have also run a Summer Youth Theatre.

To achieve all of this we have a comprehensive Group structure.

To keep the membership up-to-date with news and events, the house magazine 'The Entertainer' is published three times a year.

We are a member of The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain and affiliated to both The National Operatic and Dramatic Association and to The Association of British Theatre Technicians.

We are also listed on the UK Theatre Web, UKTW, and the Amateur Dramatic Web AMDRAM.

A more detailed history

An Idea - During the war a local doctor Raymond Owen had formed a drama company to raise money for local charities. By 1946 he was looking for a building in which to house his idea for a Theatre in Rugby. He wanted a place where the amateur talents spread amongst many small groups could be pulled together into one Society. A Society that could present their productions to the people of Rugby.

The Empire - A suitable building was found in Henry Street. Built in 1913 by Benjamin Morris, "The Empire Picture Playhouse" was used for showing silent movies. The original, very small stage was used to present music hall acts which were an integral part of cinema programmes at that time.

The Scala - With silent movies starting to disappear and "talkies" becoming popular around 1930, Mr Morris leased the building to a small cinema company. They renamed the building "The Scala" and turned it into a full time cinema showing the new "talkies".

Disaster - The Scala was quite successful until a disaster in 1946 - there was a fire in the Projection Room, no one was hurt but the room was completely burnt out. The building was under-insured and although the rest of the building was intact the small cinema company was forced to close down.

Granada - At this time films were very popular, so much so that Granada Theatres Ltd. ran three cinemas in Rugby - The Plaza (later the Granada and now Gala Bingo) in North Street, The Regal in Railway Terrace and The Regent in Bank Street. To protect their monopoly they obtained the lease to The Scala with the intention of keeping it shut.

A Home at Last - In March 1949 and after some negotiations with Granada Theatres, Rugby Theatre Society secured a lease on the Henry Street building with the condition that no films could be shown there. Eight busy months followed during which time the Henry Street cinema was converted into a theatre. The stage was extended, areas excavated to accommodate the orchestra pit and below stage dressing rooms and the whole building completely redecorated.

The First Night - In December 1949, with paint still drying, Rugby Theatre Society presented the first night of its first production - "Fisherman's Rest" written by Raymond Owen and originally performed to raise money for a theatre building.

Workshops and Stores - Raymond Owens' idea was achieved, but not wholly, because although the Society now had a theatre to perform in, the building was not large enough to accommodate scenic workshops or storage. The scenic workshops were in Newbold while the props store and committee rooms were in private houses all over Rugby. What was still needed was another building, large enough to house all these activities and preferably not too far away from the theatre building.

Central Hall - Built in 1920 and used at various times as a roller skating rink, auction mart, billiard hall, dance hall and many other things, Central Hall was located directly opposite the theatre in Henry Street. All these ventures had failed and on the outbreak of war in September 1939 Central Hall was requisitioned by a firm whose headquarters were evacuated from London. During the war their London offices were bombed so in 1945 they negotiated a ten-year lease on Central Hall and stayed there until their premises in London had been rebuilt. Thus, in 1955, Central Hall became vacant and the owners put it up for sale. Rugby Theatre Society quickly purchased the building.

All Under One Roof - With the purchase of Central Hall all the Theatre's other activities had found a new home. In 1956 the Coffee Bar was opened and in 1969 the Licensed Bar was moved into Central Hall. Since then the building has been extensively modernised and facilities improved.

Purchase - In 1976, with the death of Mrs Morris, the ownership of the Theatre passed to her son-in-law. Having no interest in the property and wishing to sell it, he offered it to Raymond Owen, the Chairman of the Trustees and the Society was quick to accept the offer. The Society now owned both its buildings in Henry Street.

Stage and Screen - With the purchase of the theatre building the condition prohibiting the showing of films was lifted. Since there were, by then, no cinemas left in Rugby the Society started showing films in addition to its live productions. Rugby Theatre now presents 10 live productions, several live concerts, 20 film exhibitions and a number of outside lettings each year.

LTG & NODA - By the 1990s, Rugby Theatre had become a respected member of The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain and is affiliated to The National Operatic and Dramatic Association. During our 50-year history, Rugby Theatre has presented over 510 of its own shows, staged over 160 shows by other organisations, and shown over 470 films. The total audience has been more than a million.

Films Presentation

With the purchase of the Theatre building from Granada Leisure Group the condition forbidding the showing of films in the Henry Street premises was removed. Working from the lead given to them by Raymond Owen (Founder), two of the Directors pioneered the showing of the first films by RT in September 1976.

During the early 1970s, the Theatre was being used by 10 live shows plus concerts and outside lettings a year over 11/12 weeks. The building was empty for around 75% of the year. With rising costs and dwindling audiences it was believed that the introduction of films would bring in additional people, and hence revenue, and should have the beneficial spin-off of increasing the live show attendances.

With much preparation work by the Directors and technical efforts by Lighting Group, RT presented its first film in September 1976. Alastair McClain's thriller "Puppet on a Chain" was seen by 40 people.

At first all our films were shown using two 16mm projectors mounted in the Lighting control room at the rear of the balcony and projected on to a screen made from white painted scenic canvas - the result was a dim picture and glorious single channel sound! After a great deal of time and effort "behind the scenes" (or should it be celluloid?) by the Lighting Group, film presentation underwent a dramatic change in February 1982 with the showing of "Tess" from a 35mm cinemascope print.

A second hand (or maybe third or fourth hand) projector of 1932 vintage had been bought, stripped down and completely rebuilt. A unique long film playing and transport system had been designed and the complete mechanism and projector installed in a projection room with a sloping roof whose average height was 4 feet. To make matters worse, a periscope was the only means of getting the picture onto the screen!

Since that time a second projector has been rebuilt and installed (a younger machine dating from 1954 and one of the last built here in Rugby by BTH (which became part of AEI then GEC and then Alstom). Further improvements include electronic remote control and monitoring, remote motorised projector focusing, stereo sound, surround sound, closed circuit monitoring of the projector and a professional standard perforated screen with motorised winding system. All this has been carried out by RT members.

Today, films run as part of an integrated programme of entertainment offered by RT. The live show and film programme ensure that there is hardly a "dark Saturday" at Rugby Theatre. Current releases and older classics are dovetailed into the very busy live production schedule that makes up Rugby Theatre today.

Rugby Theatre is a Registered Charity No 211108. Rugby Theatre Society is registered under the Data Protection Act, registration number Z6550849.