Northcott Theatre facts for kids
The Northcott Theatre after its 2007 refurbishment.
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| Address | Exeter |
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| Coordinates | 50°44′09″N 3°32′07″W / 50.7358°N 3.5352°W |
| Capacity | 464 seats |
| Production | Visiting performances |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Website | |
| http://www.exeternorthcott.co.uk | |
The Northcott Theatre is a cool place to watch plays and shows! It's located on the University of Exeter campus in Exeter, England. This theatre first opened its doors in 1967. For many years, it was run by a group called the Northcott Theatre Foundation.
In 2010, the theatre faced some challenges. However, it was saved and is now known as Exeter Northcott Theatre. It became a registered charity in June 2013. This means it's a special organization that helps the community.
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The Story of the Northcott Theatre
The Northcott Theatre is actually the seventh theatre building in the city of Exeter! Before it, there was a theatre called the Theatre Royal. In 1962, the Theatre Royal was taken down to make space for new offices.
But many people in Exeter really wanted a theatre. A kind person named Mr. George Vernon Northcott wanted to help. He started talking with the Theatre Royal's leaders to save it. A small group from the University of Exeter also had ideas. They wanted to create a new theatre and arts center.
Even though the Theatre Royal couldn't be saved, Mr. Northcott kept talking with the university. The university had already planned a spot for a theatre on its campus. So, they decided to work together!
Mr. Northcott gave a lot of money to start a special fund. Other groups also donated money. This helped create the "Northcott Devon Theatre and Arts Centre." It was made to serve everyone in the area. The Northcott Theatre officially opened on November 2, 1967. The very first play performed there was The Merchant of Venice.
Many famous actors started their careers at the Northcott Theatre. Some of these include Lesley Joseph, John Nettles, Robert Lindsay, and Imelda Staunton. It's a place where many talented people have grown!
The Northcott has a strong history as a "producing repertory theatre." This means that the theatre often created and staged its own plays. They didn't just bring in shows from other places. The theatre also used to tour its shows around the area.
When it was first built, the theatre could seat 433 people. It had a special stage that could change for different types of shows. After some updates in 2007, it can now seat 464 people.
Making the Theatre Even Better
In 2005, the theatre's leaders announced plans to make it bigger and better. They wanted to add more space for visitors and increase the number of seats.
The theatre closed for a big renovation in January 2007. It reopened on December 12, 2007. This was almost 40 years after it first opened!
The updates made the theatre much more comfortable and accessible. Here are some of the improvements:
- New and comfier seats in the main hall.
- More spaces for people using wheelchairs.
- A new lift to all public areas, making it easy for everyone to get around.
- Better facilities for people with disabilities.
- Freshly decorated and improved public areas.
- More space in the lobby for eating and drinking.
- A nicer entrance area.
- Updated technical areas for lights and sound.
After the renovation, the theatre faced some money problems. But many people worked hard to save it. The Exeter City Council and the university helped find a way. In June 2010, a new company bought the theatre. This secured its future. The Exeter Northcott Theatre continues to put on amazing shows and even started producing its own plays again in 2015.
Who Leads the Show? Artistic Directors
An artistic director is like the main creative leader of a theatre. They decide which plays to put on and help shape the theatre's overall style. Many talented people have been artistic directors at the Northcott Theatre over the years. Here are some of them:
- 1967–1971: Tony Church
- 1971–1974: Jane Howell
- 1974–1977: Geoffrey Reeves
- 1978–1980: Richard Digby Day
- 1981–1985: Stewart Trotter
- 1986–1990: George Roman
- 1991–1998: John Durnin
- 1998–2008: Ben Crocker
- 2008–2010: Rebecca Manson Jones (Creative Director)
- 2015–2018: Paul Jepson (Artistic and Executive Director)
- 2018-2022: Daniel Buckroyd (Artistic and Executive Director)
- 2022-2023: Kelly Johnson and Emma Stephenson (Interim Co-CEOs)
- 2023 - : Martin Berry (Creative Director), Kelly Johnson (Director of Marketing and Development), Emma Stephenson (Director of Operations and Finance). All three also serve as Joint-Chief Executives.
See also
