The Blakehay Theatre, Weston-super-Mare

Infobox Theatre
name = The Blakehay Theatre


caption =
address = Wadham Street
city = Weston-super-Mare
country = England
designation =
latitude = 51.351197
longitude = -2.980339
architect = Hans Price
owner = Weston Town Council
capacity = 220 seat
type =
opened =
yearsactive =
rebuilt =
closed =
othernames =
production =
currentuse =
website = www.blakehay.co.uk

The Blakehay Theatre, is a 220 seat theatre and arts centre in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England.

History

Originally built in 1850 as Wadham Street Baptist Church. [cite web | title= Our History | work= Clarence Park Baptist Church | url= http://www.cpbc.co.uk/history.asp | accessdate= 2007-07-04 ] The building was Weston-super-Mare's first Baptist church, and was also the town's first public building. In 1862 Hans Price, who became the town's leading architect, was commissioned to adapt and enlarge the building. The name comes from "Black Hay", a field that originally lay between the High Street and Wadham Street.

During World War II the theatre was hit by incendiary bombs. After the war it was rebuilt inside the original Victorian shell. In 1985 the building ceased to be a place of worship. In 1986 the Blakehay was saved from demolition by the Weston-super-Mare Building Trust and run by the Civic Society. [cite web | title= Short History | work= Friends of the Blakehay | url= http://www.blakehay.org.uk/History.htm | accessdate= 2007-07-04 ] In September 2004 Weston Town Council purchased the theatre for £195,000. [cite web | url= http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/search/Default.aspx?idxId=3&cacheTerm=blakehay2004010120041231 | title= Blakehay keys handed over to town council | work= The Weston Mercury | date= 27 September 2004 | accessdate= 2007-07-04 ] The council has since undertaken further refurbishment of the building.

The Blakehay today

Currently the Blakehay is used regularly for performances and meetings of various kinds in its main auditorium and two studios. The theatre has a resident actors company and The Blakehay Puppet Company, which provides entertainment for children across the town. [cite web | title= Group Information: Blakehay Puppet Company | work= North Somerset Council clearasmud | url= http://www.clearasmud.org.uk/display_group.asp?letter=b&record_id=971 | accessdate= 2007-07-05 ] The theatre and studios are used for performances and exhibitions by students of Weston College. [cite web | url= http://www.weston.ac.uk/courses/he08/HE_08-09.pdf | format= PDF | work= Weston College | title= Higher Education Prospectus | accessdate= 2007-07-04 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.blakehay.co.uk Official Website]
* [http://www.blakehay.org.uk/ Friends of the Blakehay]