Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen

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Tivoli Theatre
Address Guild Street
City Aberdeen
Country  United Kingdom
Architect James Matthews, C.B Phipps, Frank Matcham
Owned by The Tivoli Theatre Company LTD.
Opened 1872, 2013
Rebuilt 1897, 1909, 1938
Closed 1966
Other names Her Majesty's Theatre
Current use Theatre, being restored
The Tivoli Theatre, is a theatre in Aberdeen, Scotland, opened in 1872 as Her Majesty's Theatre and was built by the Aberdeen Theatre and Opera House Company Ltd, under architects James Matthews of Aberdeen and C.B. Phipps, a London-based architect brought in to consult. The auditorium was rebuilt in 1897 by theatre architect Frank Matcham, but then closed temporarily in 1906, following the opening of the larger His Majesty's Theatre. The smaller theatre was extensively reconstructed in 1909, again by Frank Matcham, and re-opened in July 1910 as the Tivoli. The Tivoli was refurbished again in 1938.
The Tivoil, Guild St, Aberdeen, Scotland

The theatre became a bingo hall in 1966. In the mid 1980s plans were made to improve the bingo-oriented facilities and the building, but little was actually done. The building finally closed for bingo in 1998 and became disused.

From 2000, The building had been in private hands, and attempts by the Tivoli Theatre Trust to purchase the building were unsuccessful, as of 2006. In April 2006, some cosmetic preservative work was observed at the building.

On 10 July 2009, the owner of the Tivoli Theatre decided to sell the property to Mr Brian Hendry. On 16 July 2009 during a meeting with the Aberdeen Tivoli Theatre Trust,[1] Mr Hendry outlined his intention to operate the Tivoli Theatre on a profit-making basis as a mid-scale venue with ancillary facilities, through the Tivoli Theatre Company Ltd.[2] The building was restored. The reopening was funded by many businesses.

The Tivoli was listed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.[3]

On 19 April 2012, it was announced that the Theatre had been made wind and watertight and that its frontage had been brought back to its former glory. The next phase of the restoration was set to bring the interior up to 21st century standards, including a 450-seat auditorium, a cafe and a gallery.

The theatre reopened on 25 October 2013 [4][5] with INFERNO, an original play by Thomas Bywater which ran from 25–27 October 2013. On 7 December 2013 Attic theatre's production of Robin Hood and The Babes In The Wood became the first Pantomime at the theatre in 50 years the show will run until 22 December. Currently only the Stalls are in use due to the upper level's still being restored.

Predecessors

A plaque erected by Aberdeen City Council at Theatre Lane states: "In 1795 the Theatre Royal, seating 600, was created in Marischal Street by Stephen Kemble, brother of the actor John Philip Kemble. Eminent performers included Charles Macready and Charles Keen. The theatre flourished until 1872 when it was replaced by Her Majesty's Opera House, later the Tivoli, in Guild Street."

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.aberdeentivoli.net/
  2. ↑ http://www.aberdeentivoli.net/fileadmin/forms/Position_Statement.pdf
  3. ↑ "Tivoli Theatre". Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. Retrieved 28 October 2013. 
  4. ↑ http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/3440927
  5. ↑ http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/theatre/flaming-good-launch-for-tivoli-1.145278
Scottish Theatres
Former Scottish Theatres

Coordinates: 57°08′42″N 2°05′51″W / 57.1451°N 2.0975°W / 57.1451; -2.0975

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