Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #390086 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-30
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Synopsis
This descriptive gazetter looks, town by town, at all surviving theatres built between 1750 and 1950. It makes assesments of their quality, architecturally and theatrically and also assesses the potential of reopening some disused theatres.In addition to its critical assessment of more than 650 theatres, the guide contains details of hundreds of lost theatres and biographical notes on the principal theatre architects."

Customer Reviews

A must buy for those interested in Theatrical heritage
This eagerly awaited gazetteer replaces & updates the original CURTAINS!!! project that attempted to list & comment on all surviving theatres in Britain built before 1914.

Each entry discusses the external & internal details, the changes made over the years, the current use and a frank analysis on the suitability of retention for theatrical use.

This book goes up to 1950, carefully chosen to include the Cine/Variety boom of the 20s/30s & a few projects halted due to WW2, but before the post-war building boom took hold.

This is not a book to sit down and read (although my first contact was several hours!), more of a comfortable old friend to keep on the bookshelf (or in the glovebox) and dip into when the whim takes one.

There are bound to be a few who disagree with some of the contents on finding that their own favourite building is missing or not a 3 star sleeping beauty. The compilers have gone to great lengths to be fair but have had to be ruthless in order to keep the book down to one volume.

Differences aside, this book makes fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in architecture, local history or entertainment.

All we need are companion books on Cinema, Concert Halls & Pubs!

Ian Grey