Weymouth Pavilion facts for kids
Weymouth Pavilion, July 2016
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| Former names | The Ritz |
|---|---|
| Address | The Esplanade Weymouth DT4 8ED England |
| Operator | Weymouth Pavilion CIC |
| Capacity | 988 (Theatre) 600 (Ocean Room) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 21 December 1908 |
| Closed | 23 April 1954 (destroyed by fire) |
| Reopened | 15 July 1960 13 July 2013 |
The Weymouth Pavilion is a cool theatre in Weymouth, Dorset. It used to be called The Ritz. This big building has a theatre with almost 1,000 seats. It also has a large room called the Ocean Room, which can hold 600 people for dances or events. There's also a restaurant (the Piano Bar) and a cafe (the Ritz Cafe), plus other rooms for meetings and parties.
The first Pavilion was built in 1908. Sadly, it was destroyed in a fire in 1954. The theatre you see today was built in its place in 1958. For a long time, the local council owned and ran it. But since 2013, a special group called a Community Interest Company has been in charge. This group is a not-for-profit organization, meaning they use any money they make to help the theatre. The Pavilion is located right at the end of The Esplanade, between Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Beach.
Contents
History of the Weymouth Pavilion
The First Pavilion and The Ritz (1908-1954)
Weymouth became a very popular place for holidays by the sea. People wanted a fun place for entertainment. So, in 1907, a spot at the end of the Esplanade was chosen for a new theatre. Architects competed to design it.
The first Pavilion was built in 1908. It was made of wood with a strong steel frame. It cost about £14,150, which also included making more land on the Esplanade. The theatre officially opened on December 21, 1908. In 1914, a man named Ernest Wheeler started leasing and running the theatre for 25 years.
Later, another theatre, the Alexandra Gardens Theatre, opened in 1924, creating competition. To keep up, the Pavilion also started showing movies.
The Pavilion During World War II
During World War II, the military took over the Pavilion. It was used a lot by a special army group called No. 4 Commando. In 1940, it housed 800 Moroccan soldiers from the French army. Later, it became a medical center for people being evacuated from the Channel Islands.
In April 1942, the Pavilion was damaged by bombs during an air raid. After that, the British Admiralty (the navy) took it over. They used it as a post office for naval mail until 1947.
Becoming The Ritz and the Fire
In 1947, the council leased the theatre to a company called Buxton Theatre Circuit. They installed a new cinema projection room in 1949. In May 1950, they reopened the theatre with a new name: The Ritz.
A new management company, Melcombe Productions, took over in September 1951. In January 1954, some repair work began on the building. This included fixing the roof and repainting the outside.
However, on April 13, 1954, a fire broke out. It destroyed most of the building in just one hour. The fire was caused by someone misusing a blow-lamp. The damage cost around £80,000. The council used the building's fire insurance, and what was left of the Pavilion was pulled down.
Building the New Weymouth Pavilion (1958-1960)
After a lot of discussion, work began on building a new theatre and ballroom in September 1958. The plans were drawn up by an architect named Samuel Beverley. In 1959, the council held a competition to name the new building. They chose "Weymouth Pavilion" over "The Normandy."
The new Pavilion cost £154,000 to build. It officially opened on July 15, 1960. The ballroom had opened a little before that.
Plans for Redevelopment (2006-2012)
In 2006, there were plans to redevelop the Pavilion and the area around it. This was part of a huge £135-million project. It was supposed to happen between 2007 and 2011, just in time for the 2012 Olympic Games. The plan for the 4-hectare (10-acre) site included:
- A new theatre
- A visitor center for the Jurassic Coast (a World Heritage Site)
- A new ferry terminal for Condor Ferries
- A hotel
- An underground car park
- A shopping area
- Apartments
- A marina (a place for boats)
However, this big plan was cancelled in 2009 because of a difficult economic time.
In 2012, a designer named Jeffrey Heintz suggested a new £160-million redevelopment plan. He believed his team could make the Pavilion "flourish" under a special trust. This would also save taxpayers a lot of money. But the start of the 2012 Olympic Games stopped any new redevelopment plans from going ahead.
Closure and Community Takes Over (2012-Present)
In 2012, the Borough Council announced they were looking for ways to save money on the Pavilion site. Later that year, they even considered tearing down the Pavilion and replacing it with a car park. Local people who loved the theatre started a petition to save it.
In 2013, the council had more talks about the Pavilion's future. Some ideas included:
- Demolishing it
- Leasing it to a community group
- Selling the building
It was decided that the Pavilion should be given to the community instead of being torn down. The official decision was made on February 21, 2013. The council then asked groups to bid to manage the theatre for community use. The Pavilion closed on May 13, 2013.
The next month, it was announced that a local businessman named Phil Say had won the bid. He would run the theatre as a nonprofit business through a new Community Interest Company. The new agreement was signed on July 5, 2013. The Weymouth Pavilion then reopened to the public on July 13, 2013.
In January 2015, it was reported that the Pavilion was doing much better under its new management. In 2014, it had over 300,000 visitors and sold more than 60,000 tickets! The following January, the Christmas pantomime Snow White became the most successful show ever at the Pavilion. It sold even more tickets than the previous year's pantomime, Aladdin.
Today, the theatre offers many different shows. These include:
- Stand-up comedians
- Live music concerts
- Tribute acts
- Plays
- Opera
- Touring musicals like Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
See also
In Spanish: Weymouth Pavilion para niños
