| The Theatre of Small Convenience | |
|---|---|
The Theatre of Small Convenience |
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| Address | Edith Walk |
| City | Malvern, Worcestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Designation | World's smallest commercial theatre |
| Operated by | Dennis Neale |
| Capacity | 12 |
| Type | specialist, puppetry |
| Opened | November 1999 |
| www.wctheatre.co.uk | |
The Theatre of Small Convenience is a theatre in Malvern, Worcestershire, England. In 2002 it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's smallest commercial theatre, seating up to 12 people.[1] It is less than half the size of the previous record holder, the Piccolo Theatre in Hamburg, Germany.[2][3]
The theatre is located in Edith Walk, Great Malvern. Local puppeteer Dennis Neale started work on the theatre in 1997,[2] opening for the first show in November 1999.[4] The theatre's name comes from the building's original purpose – it was converted from a derelict Victorian gentlemen's public convenience. It is trapezoidal in shape, 16 feet (4.9 m) long and from 6 feet (1.8 m) to 10 feet (3.0 m) wide.[2]
The theatre regularly hosts puppetry, professional and amateur actors, drama, poetry, storytelling and opera, and has become a regular venue of the Malvern Fringe Festival. In 2005 the theatre was chosen as one of the venues for an international puppetry festival.[5]
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