Parr Hall

The Parr Hall is the only surviving professional concert hall/theatre venue in Warrington, England.

Location

The Parr Hall and Pyramid Arts Centre are located in the Cultural quarter of Warrington town centre, in Palmyra Square.

History

Originally it was built for the people of Warrington by Joseph Parr. Warrington Musical Society gave the first concert.

The hall has hosted concerts and organ recitals from leading orchestras and cathedral organists over the years.

The Rolling Stones performed at the venue on the 25th November 1963, The Moody Blues on 1 March 1965 and The Who on the 22nd March and 11th October 1965. The Parr Hall has also hosted many famous comedians including Ken Dodd, Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr.

It has also been home since 1992 to the Warrington Scouts Gang Show.

The Warrington Male Voice Choir have been regular performers at the Hall for the past 100 years.

Cavaillé-Coll Organ

The Parr Hall is home to one of the few remaining Cavaillé-Coll organs in the world. The Cavaillé-Coll was bought by Warrington Corporation in 1925 from Ketton Hall.

In 1969, the Warrington Corporation decided that an estimated restoration of the instrument, costing £9,000 would not be a viable proposition. Through the staunch efforts of a specially formed Cavaillé-Coll Organ Retention Committee (under the chairmanship of Gordon Fletcher) the Corporation gave an undertaking that, if the money could be raised, the organ would be retained in the Parr Hall.

In late 2006 Warrington Borough Council decided that the modern needs of the venue meant that a new home would be sought for the organ; this was postponed due to insufficient funding for a major modernisation. However, the organ is now under threat once more and there are campaigns in progress to help save it. Further information can be found here:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Cavaillecoll/

Pyramid Arts Centre

In 1989 the borough council also saw a need for a better arts and theatre complex so re-developed the old courthouse next door into The Pyramid Arts Centre. The Pyramid hosts various classes throughout the year for people interested in discovering the arts. John Bramwell, of Manchester based band I Am Kloot has played a number of acoustic gigs at the Pyramid, as has John Power, formerly of Liverpool band Cast.

Other Theatres in Warrington

In the past there were a number of other theatres/concert venues in Warrington, most have either been shut down, demolished or turned into pubs and clubs. The last proper theatre to close in the town was the Crosfield Centenary Theatre, originally run by Crosfield Chemical Company (now Unilever), now demolished.

Padgate High School has a studio theatre which has hosted some notable productions.Great Sankey High School also has a notable performance venue.