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The Playhouse, Cheltenham

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and Dutch tile, one large cold bath plus smaller ones and a boiler capable of heating up to 190 °F (88 °C). Further enlargements followed in the 1830s and in the 1840s a large swimming pool was established; this was refurbished by the Corporation of Cheltenham when they bought the complex
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was severely damaged by fire. The repair work was evidently undertaken with speed and the theatre was only closed for five months. However, the fire destroyed part of one of the theatre’s balconies (which were formerly viewing balconies for the swimming pool) and this was not restored until 2007.
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When the Corporation decided it no longer wished to fund the theatre, volunteers formed the Theatre & Arts Club in 1956 and they officially took over the running of the venue in 1958 and over time acquired more part of the building which, at that time, were still being used as baths or for
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In 2019, planning permission was obtained for a major redevelopment of much of the complex (excluding the auditorium). Funding will be sought in the region of £3.5 million to achieve the charity's ambition to become a fully-staffed professional arts centre while still remaining home to local
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pandemic. Local residents launched a crowdfunder and this, together with individual donations, raised over £30,000. Pianist Peter Gill raised an additional £5,000 by playing non-stop for 24 hours. The theatre subsequently received £50,000 in the second round of the CRF.
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machine. Around this time he also built Hygeia House to make use of three wells on its site for the taking of the waters but within a few years he turned this into his private house and in 1809 opened the Montpellier Spa for this purpose (which is now
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restaurant). Water was pumped from around Thompson's land to the complex on this site so that in addition to the baths he could open a salts laboratory for the manufacturing of the Real Cheltenham Salts that could be added to water for bathing.
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In 2008, the auditorium and green room underwent a £340,000 refurbishment, half of which was funded by the council, together with additional donations from the Summerfield Charitable Trust, Trefoil Trust, a
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were also provided at the council's expense to assist the amateur groups, although the production requirements and expenses remained the responsibility of the societies. The first play performed was Shaw's
173:, England, UK. It opened in 1945 as the Civic Playhouse and was run by the Corporation of Cheltenham; it was taken over by volunteers in 1958 who continue to run the operation as a 507: 629: 1259: 555: 530: 1195: 1175: 850: 177:. It is housed in the former Montpellier Baths and the building dates back to 1806/7, making it one of the two oldest surviving spa buildings in the town. 83: 1134: 840: 396: 47: 622: 1205: 1129: 755: 1274: 1028: 1079: 750: 368:
times in addition to slipper baths upstairs, the ground floor was used as a medicinal spa for a variety of treatments including a radioactive
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in 1899. The current auditorium is built over this pool and is used as a furniture store; it is shown each September as part of Heritage
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from a founder member, several of the resident non-professional companies, and the charities own fundraising efforts.
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The Playhouse is the home of the amateur theatre group now known as Playhouse Arts, formerly The Playhouse Company.
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the theatre was flooded twice within the space of five weeks. Only two performances had to be cancelled.
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The complex was enlarged circa 1818 when it boasted 14 warm baths, fitted with
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facilities and all the publicity. A consultant producer and resident
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were discovered in Cheltenham, transforming it into a
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Goodwill messages and telegrams came from 185:In 1944, the Corporation of Cheltenham (now 18: 1246:Official website for the building's history 1196:Cheltenham Spa Malvern Road railway station 1176:Cheltenham High Street Halt railway station 851:Cheltenham High Street Halt railway station 1135:Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club Ground 841:St Philip and St James Church, Leckhampton 630: 616: 608: 552:"The discovery of Cheltenham's spa waters" 33: 17: 1206:Cheltenham Spa St. James railway station 1130:East Gloucestershire Cricket Club Ground 756:Grade II* listed buildings in Cheltenham 1029:Cheltenham (UK Parliament constituency) 381: 1260:Buildings and structures in Cheltenham 1080:Cheltenham Association Football League 751:Grade I listed buildings in Cheltenham 558:from the original on 25 September 2019 342:(steam room) and a self-administering 1186:Cheltenham Racecourse railway station 1171:Cheltenham and District Light Railway 54: 7: 1216:Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway 1064:John Taylor, Baron Taylor of Warwick 1039:Cheltenham Borough Council elections 425:from the original on 17 October 2016 399:from the original on 26 October 2019 529:The Playhouse Company, Cheltenham. 193:to act as a home for local amateur 1211:Gloucester and Cheltenham Tramroad 14: 510:from the original on 2 March 2019 454:from the original on 13 June 2016 448:"A brief history of our building" 498:Flowers, Sophie (1 March 2019). 287: 53: 46: 24: 67:Location within Gloucestershire 1275:1945 establishments in England 1201:Cheltenham Spa railway station 1181:Cheltenham Racecourse Heliport 948:Westminster Theological Centre 856:Cheltenham Spa railway station 796:Cheltenham Racecourse Heliport 479:. Summerfield Charitable Trust 334:that encompassed a handful of 1: 998:University of Gloucestershire 938:University of Gloucestershire 791:Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's 1054:Cheltenham by-election, 1937 1049:Cheltenham by-election, 1928 1044:Cheltenham by-election, 1911 1270:Theatres in Gloucestershire 963:Cheltenham Bournside School 1291: 1120:College Ground, Cheltenham 1034:Cheltenham Borough Council 973:Cheltenham Ladies' College 241:2007 United Kingdom floods 187:Cheltenham Borough Council 169:is a community theatre in 1229: 1090:Cheltenham Rugby Festival 1008:Urban Learning Foundation 421:. The Playhouse Company. 302:into multiple articles. ( 145: 41: 32: 23: 1095:Cheltenham Saracens F.C. 1003:Hereford College of Arts 450:. Cheltenham Playhouse. 1085:Cheltenham Cricket Club 933:Gloucestershire College 917:The Wilson (Cheltenham) 816:Ellenborough Park Hotel 786:Cheltenham Masonic Hall 393:"The Playhouse Theatre" 1191:Cheltenham Spa Express 99:51.896805°N 2.074265°W 1265:Culture in Cheltenham 1140:Cheltenham Racecourse 983:Pate's Grammar School 943:National Star College 781:Le Champignon Sauvage 761:153–159 Fairview Road 582:24 April 2006 at the 554:. The History Press. 540:– via Facebook. 260:Culture Recovery Fund 227:On 5 April 1950, the 1115:Old Patesians R.F.C. 1100:Cheltenham Town F.C. 1059:GCHQ trade union ban 1024:Cheltenham Agreement 912:The Cheltenham Ghost 887:Cheltenham Town Hall 806:Cheltenham Town Hall 801:Cheltenham Synagogue 504:Gloucestershire Live 395:. Visit Cheltenham. 236:medical treatments. 167:Cheltenham Playhouse 104:51.896805; -2.074265 1150:The Victoria Ground 1145:Sandford Parks Lido 1110:Cheltenham Gold Cup 1105:Cheltenham Festival 953:All Saints' Academy 897:Pittville Pump Room 846:St Gregory's Church 831:Pittville Pump Room 826:Montpellier Rotunda 419:"About the company" 322:In 1716, the first 203:George Bernard Shaw 95: /  20: 993:St Edward's School 968:Cheltenham College 866:Trinity Cheltenham 861:Thirlestaine House 766:All Saints' Church 474:"Grants paid 2008" 175:registered charity 1242: 1241: 978:Dean Close School 882:The Bacon Theatre 771:The Bacon Theatre 320: 319: 279:Montpellier Baths 271:Theatre companies 262:(CRF) during the 164: 163: 1282: 1125:Dowty Arle Court 988:Pittville School 958:Balcarras School 892:Everyman Theatre 821:Everyman Theatre 632: 625: 618: 609: 604: 603: 601:Official website 586: 574: 568: 567: 565: 563: 548: 542: 541: 539: 537: 531:"WE ARE MOVING!" 526: 520: 519: 517: 515: 495: 489: 488: 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Retrieved 546: 534:. Retrieved 524: 512:. Retrieved 503: 493: 481:. Retrieved 468: 456:. Retrieved 427:. Retrieved 413: 401:. Retrieved 354: 321: 308: 297: 274: 257: 255:performers. 253: 245: 238: 234: 226: 219: 199:World War II 184: 166: 165: 15: 693:Montpellier 688:Leckhampton 678:Hesters Way 536:31 December 239:During the 102: / 77:Coordinates 1254:Categories 744:structures 708:Rowanfield 639:Cheltenham 376:References 229:auditorium 211:box office 171:Cheltenham 87:51°53′48″N 1164:Transport 926:Education 907:Spy Booth 713:St. Pauls 703:Prestbury 698:Pittville 366:Edwardian 364:. In the 362:Open Days 195:companies 191:playhouse 90:2°04′27″W 1234:Category 1017:Politics 683:Lansdown 673:Fairview 580:Archived 556:Archived 508:Archived 452:Archived 423:Archived 397:Archived 370:mud bath 340:sudatory 328:spa town 264:COVID-19 124:Capacity 875:Culture 728:Whaddon 723:Swindon 663:Benhall 653:Alstone 562:20 July 514:20 July 483:20 July 458:20 July 429:20 July 403:20 July 349:The Ivy 304:discuss 249:bequest 181:History 141:Website 118:Theatre 357:marble 133:Opened 1073:Sport 646:Areas 477:(PDF) 344:enema 336:baths 299:split 158:/Home 658:Arle 564:2020 538:2023 516:2020 485:2020 460:2020 431:2020 405:2020 338:, a 205:and 156:.dll 150:.org 136:1945 115:Type 306:) 152:.uk 128:186 1256:: 506:. 502:. 439:^ 384:^ 372:. 224:. 631:e 624:t 617:v 566:. 518:. 487:. 462:. 433:. 407:. 313:) 309:(

Index

Playhouse logo

The Playhouse is located in Gloucestershire
Coordinates
51°53′48″N 2°04′27″W / 51.896805°N 2.074265°W / 51.896805; -2.074265
Capacity
cheltplayhouse.org.uk/CheltPlayhouse.dll/Home
Cheltenham
registered charity
Cheltenham Borough Council
playhouse
companies
World War II
George Bernard Shaw
Ralph Richardson
box office
stage manager
Arms and the Man
auditorium
2007 United Kingdom floods
bequest
Culture Recovery Fund
COVID-19
split
discuss
mineral springs
spa town
Henry Thompson
baths
sudatory

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