Jump to content

Intimate Theatre

Coordinates: 51°37′27″N 0°06′10″W / 51.6241°N 0.1029°W / 51.6241; -0.1029
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

an image of Intimate Theatre

The Intimate Theatre was a repertory theatre in Palmers Green, London from 1937 to 1987, and is the name commonly used for St. Monica's Church Hall.

History

[edit]

St. Monica's Church Hall was built in 1931, and the actor John Clements turned the building into the Intimate Theatre in 1935.[1] It became a full-time professional repertory theatre in 1937.[2]

After he was demobbed, Roger Moore was a member of the repertory company, and earned about £10 per week.[3] In the late 1940s, the BBC televised 14 plays from the theatre.

During the 1960s, the repertory company put on a new play each week,[4] although Max Rietmann's Hot and Cold in all Rooms played to a capacity audience for three weeks in 1962.[5]

In March 1968, David Bowie acted the role of Cloud in Lindsay Kemp's Pierrot In Turquoise at the theatre.[6]

In August 1968 Richard Todd starred in Man with a Load of Mischief with Dilys Laye.[7]

In 1969, the building reverted for a short time to its use as a church hall before returning to its use as a theatre.[8]

In 1987, the usage as a theatre was reduced to allow the church to hold other events.[9]

Current use

[edit]

It has a current capacity of 435 Today (2012) the theatre was used by Protos Theatre & Arts Group, The London Pantomimers,[10] Acorn Theatre Company,[11] Saint Monica's Players,[12] and other amateur drama groups. It is located on Green Lanes.[2] In January 2019, it was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register after the church owners said they wanted to demolish the building to replace it with a new parish hall.[13]

Building scheduled for demolition

[edit]

On 8 March, Enfield Council's Planning Committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission to the redevelopment scheme.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Chambers, Colin (2006). "Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre". p.165. Continuum International Publishing Group. Retrieved 31 March 2011.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Intimate (London)". Theatres Database. The Theatres Trust. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  3. ^ Moore, Roger. "Roger Moore from 1972 - page 4". Roger Moore - The Early Days. The Roger Moore Web Team. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  4. ^ Shellard, Dominic (4 September 2006). "Interview with Stephen Wischhusen". Theatre Archive Project. British Library. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  5. ^ Wischhusen, Stephen (6 September 2006). "Comment". Conference 'More Than Just Osborne?' 5 September 2006, 18.30-21.00. Theatre Archive Project. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  6. ^ Kinder, P. "1958-1969 Concert Performances". Tours. BowieWonderworld. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  7. ^ Man with a Load of Mischief, production details: West End Broadway: The Golden Age of the American Musical in London By Adrian Wright 2012
  8. ^ T F T Baker, R B Pugh (Editors), A P Baggs, Diane K Bolton, Eileen P Scarff, G C Tyack (1976). "Edmonton: Social life". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham. British History Online. Retrieved 31 March 2011. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "A Brief History of Risley Musical Theatre Company (Formerly Risley Operatic Group)". Risley Musical Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  10. ^ The London Pantomimers Archived 2012-08-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 May 2012
  11. ^ Acorn Theatre Company Retrieved 29 May 2012
  12. ^ St Monica's players Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10 May 2011
  13. ^ Dex, Robert (22 January 2019). "The Intimate Theatre: Venue where Richard Attenborough made stage debut placed on 'at risk' list". Evening Standard.
  14. ^ "The Intimate Theatre: Planning permission approved for Theatre at Risk Intimate Theatre".

Further reading

[edit]
  • Intimate Memories: The History of the Intimate Theatre, Palmers Green by Geoff Bowden, Badger Press, 2006 ISBN 978-0-9526076-3-2

51°37′27″N 0°06′10″W / 51.6241°N 0.1029°W / 51.6241; -0.1029