Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent facts for kids
For other theatres with a similar name, see Victoria Theatre (disambiguation)
The original redbrick and terracotta (left) against the 1999 extension (right)
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| Address | Bagnall Street Stoke-on-Trent England |
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| Coordinates | 53°01′23″N 2°10′31″W / 53.0231°N 2.1752°W |
| Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group |
| Capacity | 1,467 |
| Opened | 1888 |
| Years active | 1888-present |
| Website | |
| Official Box Office: https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/victoria-hall/ | |
The Victoria Hall is a famous concert hall in Hanley, a town in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It first opened its doors in 1888. This grand building was built to celebrate Queen Victoria's special Jubilee event the year before. The Victoria Hall and the nearby Regent Theatre are both looked after by the Ambassador Theatre Group.
Contents
A Look Back at Victoria Hall's History
The Victoria Hall was built in 1888. It was added next to the Hanley Town Hall. This was part of the town's big party for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Jubilee celebrated 50 years of her being queen.
Building Design and Materials
A local expert named Joseph Lobley designed the hall. He was the borough surveyor. The building was made using red brick and terracotta. Terracotta is a type of baked clay.
Famous Performances and Recordings
Many famous musicians have performed here. One was Edward Elgar, a well-known composer. He conducted the first show of his music piece King Olaf. Later, in 1996, Donald Hunt led the BBC Philharmonic orchestra here. They played King Olaf again to mark 100 years since its first performance.
The hall has also been used for recordings. For example, the live album Made in Stoke 24/7/11 by the guitarist Slash was recorded here.
What's Inside Victoria Hall
The Victoria Hall has changed over the years. It now has great facilities for visitors and performers.
Seating and Capacity
When it first opened, the hall could hold 2,800 people. Back then, people sat on wooden forms and benches. Now, there are proper seats. This means the hall can hold 1,467 people comfortably.
The Grand Organ
The hall has a large organ with four manuals, which are like keyboards. A local businessman, George Meakin, gave the original organ to the hall. It was made bigger and rebuilt in the 1920s. The organ has been updated several times since then. The most recent work has focused on making it sound like it did in the 1920s.
Modern Updates and Accessibility
The Victoria Hall was originally just an extra part of the town hall. It didn't have many facilities for visitors. To fix this, a new section was built in 1999. This was part of making Hanley a "Cultural Quarter." The new building connects to the old hall. It offers a new entrance and better facilities for everyone. This includes easier access for people with disabilities.
