It is good to see that the plans for the development and preservation of Wilton's Music Hall, in London's East End, are coming together at last. They started this summer, with their phase 1 development which encompassed major works to the roofs and basement, plus sound-proofing, ventilation and electrics. This has been funded by the Foundation for Sport and Arts along with numerous charitable trusts. The theatre has also received one of the first grants from the Theatres Trust's Theatres Protection Fund. They have now been awarded a first round Heritage Lottery Fund grant which will enable them to develop phase 2 of the development work.
The full Heritage Lottery Fund phase 2 application will be submitted in March 2013, and this covers the terrace of 5 Georgian houses which form the bar and front of house areas. When complete the derelict areas within the building will be opened up, and there will be rehearsal and studio spaces on the top floor. Total cost of phase 2 is £2.2 million.
Wilton's Music Hall consists of a Victorian music hall attached to a Georgian terrace of houses and a pub. Originally the pub had a concert-room attached but this was later developed into a new Music Hall in 1859. It was eventually bought by the East End Methodist Mission and was operated by them from 1888 to 1956, a fact which probably ensured the Music Hall's survival. It also survived the slum clearances, amazingly, is Listed and re-opened as a theatre and concert hall in 1997. But the state of the building has been a constant problem, romantic dereliction is hardly the way forward for a modern theatre. Before the development project started, 40% of the building was out of bounds and the building on the Buildings at Risk Register. So this project will enable them to set the venue on its feet.
There are a variety of events on at the site, including the intriguingly named Telemann's Gulliver's Travels, plus talks and history tours. Check out their website for details.
Elsewhere on this blog:
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts this month
-
The Pink Singers at Cadogan Hall, January 2023 (Photo Jessica Rowbottom) In July 1983 I allowed myself to have my arm twisted and take over ...
-
Peter Selwyn conducting the Lambeth Orchestra at All Saints West Dulwich in April 2022 (Photo: Anna Shilonosova) The Lambeth Orchestra , pri...
-
Ethel Smyth: The Wreckers - James Rutherford, Philip Horst, Karis Tucker - Glyndebourne (Photo Richard Hubert Smith) 2022 was a strong year...
-
Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg New Year’s Eve concert (Silvesterkonzert); Eva Hinterreithner (mezzo-soprano), Markus Obereder (tenor/barito...
-
Sondheim: Company - Artform in rehearsal, Daniel Lawrence (Bobby) & Aimee Collins (Kathy) - Photo Bethany Andrews Artform is a non-profe...
-
Portrait miniature of Handel (c1710) by Christoph Platzer (Photo of a lost original, Handel-Haus, Halle) Handel: Sans y penser (Cantate Fra...
-
Calidore String Quartet (Jeffrey Myers, Ryan Meehan, Jeremy Berry, Estelle Choi) The Calidore String Quartet is a young American string qua...
-
Hollie Harding, Heather Roche, Eva Zöllner, Colin Alexander LSO St Luke's(Photo Emily Hazrati ) Christophe Bertrand, Laurence Crane, Joa...
-
St Thomas' Church, Leipzig in 1723 Caldara: Sinfonia in C, Bach: Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV110, Christ, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV6...
-
Max: A Child In Striped Pyjamas - Susanna MacRae, Rachel Roper - (Photo: Bonnie Britain) Noah Max: A Child in Striped Pyjamas ; Susanna Mac...
No comments:
Post a Comment