The Dukes, Lancaster facts for kids
The Dukes in 2007
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 The Dukes
Location in Lancaster city centre
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| Former names | The Dukes Playhouse |
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| Location | Lancaster, Lancashire, England |
| Coordinates | 54°02′57″N 2°47′47″W / 54.0491°N 2.7964°W |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | 313 (The Rake) 240 (The Round) 112 (Centre for Creative Learning) |
| Opened | 18 November 1971 (as a theatre) |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Dukes Theatre | |
| Designated: | 22 December 1953 |
| Reference #: | 1211613 |
The Dukes is a theatre in Lancaster, England. It's a special place because it's the only theatre in the county that creates its own shows. The Dukes is supported by Arts Council England. Each year, it produces two of its own plays. It also welcomes many touring shows, including comedy, live music, and dance. The Dukes is also well-known for showing independent movies. In 2017, it even won an award for being the "Cinema of the Year."
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History of The Dukes Theatre
The Dukes theatre first opened its doors on November 18, 1971. It was originally a church called St Anne's. It took about a year to change the church into a theatre. This project cost around £180,000.
The Queen, who is also known as the "Duke of Lancaster", gave her permission for the theatre to use the name "The Dukes". A government minister, Viscount Eccles, officially opened the theatre.
Theatre Spaces at The Dukes
The Dukes theatre has three different performance areas. These are located in two separate buildings.
The Main Building's Stages
In the main building, there are two main spaces:
- The Rake: This is the biggest space. It can hold about 313 people.
- The Round: This is a smaller studio space. It can seat around 240 people.
Centre for Creative Learning
The Dukes also has a special place called the Centre for Creative Learning. It's a short walk from the main theatre. This centre has its own space for projects and performances. It's used for activities with young people and the community.
Shows Made by The Dukes
The Dukes theatre now creates two of its own shows each year. These are called "homegrown productions." They include a summer "Park" show and a Christmas play. These shows are mostly created by the theatre's own team. Over the years, they have included both new stories and classic plays.
The Play in the Park
Since 1987, The Dukes has put on outdoor plays every summer. These shows happen in Williamson Park. The audience walks around the park as the play unfolds. The very first "Play in the Park" was A Midsummer Night's Dream. It opened on June 24, 1987. This idea came from the theatre's director, Johnathan Petherbridge, and administrator, John Stalker. The famous actor Andy Serkis was in that first park show. He is now a special supporter of the theatre.
More than 500,000 people have seen a Dukes Park Show since it began. The 2016 show, The Hobbit, won an award for "Best Show for Children and Young People." The Play in the Park is believed to be the largest outdoor walking theatre event in the UK.
Christmas Production
The Dukes' Christmas show usually takes place in "The Round" theatre space. In the past, it has also used "The Rake" stage. The Christmas production is often different from a traditional pantomime. However, it still includes fun parts where the audience can join in. In recent years, the show has featured original music. This music was created by a group called The Baghdaddies.
Other Homegrown Shows
Besides the Play in the Park and the Christmas production, The Dukes creates at least one other show each year. Recently, the theatre has focused on plays that connect strongly with its audiences. For example, in 2017, they created a show called Blackout. This play told the story of how Storm Desmond affected the areas of Lancaster and Morecambe.
Creative Learning Programs
The Dukes is not just a theatre and cinema for everyone. It also has a Centre for Creative Learning. This centre is located a short walk from the main theatre building. The Creative Learning team at The Dukes organizes many projects. These projects involve children, young people, and adults. Their goal is to help more people experience and enjoy the arts.
The Dukes' Young Company
The Dukes' Young Company is a group of young performers. They put on a show every year. They also appear in other theatre productions, like the Play in the Park. A well-known former member of this group is Coronation Street actress Cherylee Houston. She is now a special supporter of The Dukes.
Arts for Well-being
In recent years, The Dukes has explored how the arts can help people. They have focused on improving the lives and mental well-being of people living with dementia. This was part of their three-year program called 'A Life More Ordinary'. They developed many activities, such as:
- Film screenings that are friendly for people with dementia. These screenings include an intermission and live music.
- Workshops where people can take part in creative activities.
These ideas were shared with other cinemas and theatres across the country. The program ended with a conference in May 2018. It was called 'Creative Adventures in Dementia' and took place at The Dukes.
