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279:. The architect was James Horsford, who also designed the former St Luke’s Church in St Peter’s Street. When the school relocated to its current site in 1891, the building was sold to the town council, and became part of the Town Hall, and was used as a council chamber and meeting room. The stage and
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were installed in about 1900. The name Civic
Theatre was given to it by the late Weyman Mackay, a leading light in am-dram circles after Second World War, about the time that it was refurbished as a theatre around 1948-52. There used to be a plaque in the entrance foyer, but this was thrown away
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In April 2010, Bedford
Borough Council announced its intention to close the Civic Theatre, converting the building into a 'one-stop-shop' for council services. The plans form part of a redevelopment of the surrounding area, which will include the demolition of Bedford Town Hall.
252:. It hosted a variety of events, exhibitions and performances, and groups such as the Bedford Dramatic Society, The Bradgate Players, Swan Theatre Company, Bedford Amateur Operatic Society and Bedford Marianettes regularly produced plays and musicals in the venue.
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made up from members of the
Amateur Dramatic Societies in Bedford and the surrounding area and other users of the Civic Theatre opposed the closure and conversion of the Theatre. They were supported by
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the current MP. However the Civic
Theatre was closed in 2012, and the building now houses a Customer Service Centre for Bedford Borough Council.
347:"Bedfordshire Local News, Local News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Town Hall to go at a saving of £1m a year"
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The
Theatre was documented on The Theatres Trust website and was listed by the Trust in the 2010 Directory of Theatre Buildings At Risk.
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festival opened in 2007 and used the Civic
Theatre as its main venue.
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at the theatre each
Christmas before moving to the Corn Exchange. The
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271:The building that housed the theatre is a
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462:Buildings and structures in Bedford
413:. 18 September 2010. Archived from
327:University of Bedfordshire Theatre
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472:2012 disestablishments in England
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177:Council Customer Service Centre
467:1952 establishments in England
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373:database.theatrestrust.org.uk
369:"Civic | Theatres Trust"
254:The Bedford Pantomime Company
220:located on Horne Lane in the
58:Location within Bedfordshire
387:"Theatre Buildings At Risk"
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411:"Save Our Civic Home Page"
349:. Bedfordshire-news.co.uk
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457:Theatres in Bedfordshire
273:Grade II Listed Building
150:Listed Building Grade II
442:Save Our Civic Campaign
246:Bedford Borough Council
130:Bedford Borough Council
250:Corn Exchange, Bedford
248:, and operated by the
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417:on 18 September 2010.
322:Bedford Corn Exchange
214:Bedford Civic Theatre
299:A local campaign to
110:52.13466°N 0.46917°W
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437:Bedfringe Festival
262:Bedfringe festival
115:52.13466; -0.46917
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351:. Retrieved
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88:Coordinates
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333:References
98:52°08′05″N
70:Horne Lane
258:pantomime
203:Architect
101:0°28′09″W
353:6 August
316:See also
264:, a pre-
165:Capacity
136:Operator
288:Closure
240:History
234:England
226:Bedford
218:theatre
81:England
73:Bedford
67:Address
216:was a
195:Closed
187:Opened
397:(PDF)
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126:Owner
355:2012
212:The
198:2012
190:1952
156:Type
224:of
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