The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Coordinates: 50°55′08″N 4°12′32″W / 50.919°N 4.209°W / 50.919; -4.209

The Plough arts centre on Fore Street in the centre of Great Torrington.

The Plough Arts Centre is a theatre, cinema and art gallery in Torrington, north Devon, England.

The Plough is situated in a former Territorial Army drill hall on Fore Street in the centre of Torrington. The site was previously a 16th-century town house which was turned into a public house The Plough Inn in 1750, giving the centre its current name. The pub was licensed until 1910 but had fallen into disrepair and was demolished in 1912.[1]

The Plough was founded in 1975 and opened with a performance by Dame Edith Evans.[1] In 1991 financial problems threatened The Plough with closure: it was saved through a merger with the nearby Beaford Arts which was established in 1966 by the Dartington Hall Trust to promote and support the arts in rural north Devon.[2][1] Beaford withdrew in 2002, and The Plough is now again independent and hosts theatre, cinema, music, comedy and art exhibitions.[3] The theatre has 132 raked seats but has the capacity to expand to 240 people.[4]

In 2014 a 60-year-old 35mm celluloid Westar projector was supplemented with a digital projector and enhancements to technical capabilities at the centre, including a new box office system. The money was raised by public fundraising backed by Alistair McGowan, who is a patron of the Plough.[5] The campaign was also boosted by the $4,500 raised at an event with Michael Portillo.[6]

Workshops

The Plough Arts Centre runs many creative workshops for people of all ages and abilities.[7] It is the home of the Plough Youth Theatre now in their 6th Year.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About The Plough Arts Centre". The Plough Arts Centre. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Beafordarts Centre". Beafordarts. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Plough Arts Centre". Great Torrington Council. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Technical information". The Plough Arts Centre. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Last reel change as Plough Arts Centre in Torrington goes digital". Western Morning News. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "Portillo raises £4.5k for Plough Arts Centre". North Devon Gazette. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Workshops". Plough Arts Centre. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "The Plough Arts Centre". National Association of Youth Theatres. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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