Crucible Theatre

Crucible Theatre
The main entrance to the Crucible Theatre in 2010
Address 55 Norfolk Street
Sheffield, S1 1DA
England
Owner Sheffield Theatres
Designation Grade II listed building
Type Thrust Stage
Capacity 980
Construction
Opened 1971
Architect RHWL
Website
http://www.SheffieldTheatres.co.uk

The Crucible Theatre (often referred to simply as "The Crucible") is a theatre in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England which opened in 1971, As well as theatrical performances, it hosts the most prestigious event in professional snooker, the World Championship. The theatre was refurbished between 2007 and late 2009 and officially reopened 18 February 2010.

History

The Crucible Theatre at night

The Crucible Theatre was built by M J Gleeson and opened in 1971,[1] replacing the Playhouse Repertory theatre in Townhead Street. In 1967 Colin George, the founding Artistic Director of the Crucible, recommended a thrust stage for Sheffield, inspired by theatres created by Sir Tyrone Guthrie. Tanya Moiseiwitsch, who had been involved in designing Guthrie's theatres, was the designer.[2] The architects Renton Howard Wood Levin Architects were engaged and the building itself began to take shape in 1969. It was completed in two years, on time for the opening performance in November 1971 of Fanfare, an evening's entertainment comprising children participating in an improvised scene, Chekhov's Swan Song with Ian McKellen and Edward Petherbridge and a music hall finale with a Sheffield brass band.

This demonstrated the versatility of the stage, which has since been adapted to dance and musical performance, as well as classical and modern theatre, and receives touring productions, as well as hosting squash and the World Snooker Championship.

The audience sits on three sides but no member is more than the length of a cricket wicket – 22 yards (20 metres) – from the performer, or indeed a snooker ball. Consequently, although it seats 980 people the spectator has an intimate relationship with the activity on stage. Colin George and the Administrator David Brayshaw persuaded the Gulbenkian Foundation to finance for the first time the building of a professional theatre – the 400 seat Studio, which opened with the main house.

In 2001, the Crucible was awarded the Barclays 'Theatre of the Year Award'.[3] It is a Grade II listed building.[4]

The Crucible Theatre before and after refurbishment
Image taken April 2005
Image taken July 2010

The building went through a £15 million refurbishment between 2007 and late 2009 – opening during that period only for the 2008 and 2009 World Snooker Championships.[5]

The Crucible reopened as a theatre on 11 February 2010 with a production of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, with the official reopening by the Earl of Wessex on 18 February 2010.[6]

Theatre

The Crucible is a producing theatre, meaning shows are designed and rehearsed in-house. These productions are normally overseen by the Sheffield Theatres Group.

Sports venue

The World Snooker Championship tournament has been played annually in the Crucible since 1977. The Ladies World Snooker Championship was also held at the Crucible between 1998 and 2003 but was eventually withdrawn due to financial difficulties. The venue has also hosted championships of other indoor sports, such as table tennis and squash.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gleeson spurns takeover advance". Yorkshire Post. 9 January 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Sheffield Theatres – venues Archived 5 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Sheffield City Council Executive Recruitment – About the City Archived 9 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "The Crucible Theatre (1392311)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (9 February 2007). "Gone West". The Guardian.
  6. ↑ Earl re-opens Crucible Theatre

Bibliography

  • Crucible Theatre, Sheffield: A Model Theatre in the Tradition of the Juvenile Drama, Michael D Everett, MDE Pubns (1981), ISBN 0-906933-01-3
  • The acoustical design and performance of the Sheffield Crucible Theatre, D. J. Oldham, Dept. of Building Science, Faculty of Architectural Studies, University of Sheffield (1973), OL 13964103M, OCLC 20304835

Coordinates: 53°22′52″N 1°28′00″W / 53.381012°N 1.466594°W / 53.381012; -1.466594 (Crucible Theatre)

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