Beck Theatre
| The Beck Theatre | |
|---|---|
| Address | Grange Road, Hayes UB3 2UE |
| City | London |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°31′17″N 0°25′24″W / 51.5215°N 0.4234°WCoordinates: 51°31′17″N 0°25′24″W / 51.5215°N 0.4234°W |
| Owned by | HQ Theatres |
| Capacity | 600 |
| Type | Provincial |
| Opened | 1977 |
| Other names | Alfred Beck Theatre |
| Website | |
| www.becktheatre.org.uk | |
The Beck Theatre is a 600-seat theatre in Hayes, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It was built in 1977 at a cost of £2.5 million.
Type
The Beck is very much a community theatre, offering one-night concerts, drama, comedy, dance, musicals, children's shows, films, opera, pantomime, and a renowned children's summer project.
History
The Beck Theatre was built in 1977 by Hillingdon Borough Council, with a bequest from Councillor Alfred Beck. It was purpose-built as a community-focused theatre, and is set in a parkland aspect adjoining a botanical garden (the Norman Leddy Memorial Gardens).
The Beck was one of forty buildings considered for the Royal Institute of British Architects London region award in 1978, and in 2004 won an Access Award from Hillingdon Council for its resources for disabled and elderly people.
A fund shortage threatened the theatre's future in 1984, when it was saved by a local petition. It was taken over in 1986 by impresario Charles Vance. The management contract passed then to Hetherington Seelig, followed by Apollo Leisure in 1992 (later bought out by Clear Channel Entertainment). In 2006, the Beck reverted to Hetherington Seelig in a partnership with Qdos Entertainment called HQ Theatres, which continues to run the theatre on behalf of the local council.
In June 1991, the theatre was the scene of an attempted IRA bombing, before a performance by the Blues and Royals band.[1]
Transport
Buses
The 90, 195, 427, 607, H98 and U7 buses all stop at the Beck Theatre. Alight at the traffic lights at the junction of Uxbridge Road and Grange Road.
Train
The closest train station is Hayes and Harlington, which is approximately 2 km away. The 90, 195, and H98 buses connect Hayes and Harlington Station and the Beck Theatre.
Tube
Uxbridge is the closest London Underground station. The 427, 607, and U7 buses connect Uxbridge Station and the Beck Theatre.
Car
There is a free car park at the theatre. Audience members may be dropped off at the main theatre-entrance prior to parking.
Artists
The following is a selective list of artists to have trod the boards at the Beck:
- Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull
- Marcus Brigstocke
- Brotherhood of Man
- Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate
- Roy 'Chubby' Brown
- Jimmy Carr
- Frank Carson
- Chas & Dave
- Jim Davidson
- Fairport Convention
- Foster & Allen
- The Fureys & Davey Arthur
- Billy Fury (who gave his final concert at the venue in 1982)
- Rhod Gilbert
- Dave Gorman
- Harry Hill
- The Hollies
- Jethro
- Jimmy Jones
- Sean Lock
- Joe Longthorne
- Les McKeown's Bay City Rollers
- Al Murray
- The Osmonds
- Showaddywaddy
- Tom Stade
- Freddie Starr
- Steeleye Span
- Suggs of Madness
- Ricky Tomlinson
- Tim Vine
- Barbara Windsor
- You Me At Six
References
- ↑ Kirby, Terry (11 February 1993). "Terrorist who mercilessly used his 60-year-old lover: James Canning discovered the perfect cover in a home in north-west London.". The Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
