Derby Playhouse facts for kids

Derby Playhouse was a famous theatre company in Derby, England. It also owned the theatre building where it put on shows from 1975 until 2008. The company faced money problems and eventually stopped operating. In 2009, the theatre reopened as the Derby Theatre. It is now run by the University of Derby and is used for their Theatre Arts degree. During its time, Derby Playhouse was known across the country for its amazing plays, especially those by Stephen Sondheim. It also showed brand new plays and was the first in the region to stage many others.

History of the Theatre

Early Beginnings

The story of Derby Playhouse began in 1948. It was first called the Little Theatre and was located in a converted church hall on Becket Street. In 1952, the theatre company moved to another building on Sacheverel Street. It even survived a big fire in 1956!

Building a New Home

In the 1960s and early 1970s, the British government started a special fund called "Housing the Arts." This fund helped cities build new theatres or fix up old ones. The Derby Playhouse company created a group called the New Theatre Trust. Their goal was to raise money locally to build their very own theatre.

Roderick Ham, who had designed another theatre before, was chosen to design the new building. The Derby City Council gave the land for the theatre. It was part of the new Eagle Centre shopping area. The new Derby Playhouse could seat 535 people. It officially opened on September 20, 1975. The 11th Duke of Devonshire was there for the opening.

Money Troubles and Closure

In 2002, the company ran into serious money problems. They had a big debt of £400,000, which was the largest in their history. They almost had to close down. By 2004, they had recovered and were selling more tickets than ever before.

However, in 2007, the company faced very serious financial difficulties again. On November 29, 2007, the theatre's leaders announced they would have to close. This happened after the Derby City Council could not give them an extra £40,000. Even so, the actors and crew of the play Treasure Island decided to perform that evening. After the show, the cast and staff spoke to the audience. They asked everyone to fight to keep the theatre open. The next day, the company announced it was going into a special financial process to try and sort out its debts.

A Brief Reopening and Final Curtain

Experts allowed the Playhouse to reopen on December 7, 2007. This was so it could finish its run of Treasure Island. A small team of staff worked without pay to get the theatre running again. People started a fund to collect donations to keep the Playhouse going. Tickets for the Spring/Summer 2008 season were put back on sale. They also asked the Arts Council for help.

Sadly, the Arts Council said no in January 2008. The theatre closed after the last performance of Treasure Island on February 2, 2008.

On July 30, 2008, a plan was accepted to try and save the company. The theatre reopened on September 13, 2008. It showed a play called The Killing of Sister George. This play ran until October 18. However, it turned out to be the very last show the Derby Playhouse company ever put on. The theatre building was later sold to the University of Derby. It reopened in October 2009 as the Derby Theatre.

Notable Productions

Opening Shows and Early Years

The new Derby Playhouse opened with a popular musical called My Fair Lady. The first season also included famous plays like Hamlet and The Seagull, which starred Alan Bates. The Seagull even went on to play in London. Mark Woolgar was the Resident Director for the first five years. He chose a wide variety of plays, from classic writers like Shakespeare and Ibsen to more modern ones.

New Directors and Popular Plays

Christopher Honer became the Artistic Director in 1980. For the next seven years, the Playhouse put on many important shows. These included All My Sons with Miranda Richardson and Piaf with Caroline Quentin. They also showed new plays and big successes like Funny Peculiar and Blood Brothers. During this time, the Derby Playhouse Studio also offered many shows. It even toured plays in the community and had a special program for schools.

In 1987, Annie Castledine took over as Artistic Director. For three years, the theatre showed a very different style of plays. They brought back older plays and gave new interpretations to classics like A Doll's House. They also put on popular comedies like Arsenic and Old Lace and new works. The theatre's shows became known for their strong visual style.

Challenges and Successes

In the summer of 1990, Derby Playhouse faced big funding cuts. The local council reduced their arts budget significantly. However, the City Council offered extra money, which helped the Playhouse keep going, though on a smaller scale.

In spring 1991, Mark Clements became the Artistic Director. His first season included And A Nightingale Sang. Plays by John Godber were very popular during Clements' time. The theatre showed a mix of classic plays like Death of a Salesman and new dramas. Musicals also became a big part of the program, including Grease and Little Shop of Horrors. The Christmas pantomimes, written by Mark Clements, brought in record numbers of people.

Later Years and Sondheim Focus

In 2002, Karen Hebden became the chief executive, and Stephen Edwards became the Creative Producer. In the years that followed, the Playhouse became nationally recognized for its productions. They were especially known for the works of Stephen Sondheim. They put on amazing shows like Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company, and Merrily We Roll Along.

The company's very last production before it closed for good was The Killing of Sister George. This show ended its run on October 18, 2008. The rest of the planned shows for that autumn, including the Christmas production of Peter Pan, were cancelled.