Cheltenham's Own Intimate Theatre

For 60 years, the people of Cheltenham have enjoyed the notable facility of their own Theatre. A Theatre in which talented amateurs from all walks of life can work together with a single purpose; the presentation of non-professional drama of exceptionally high standards to the theatre-going public.

The Playhouse is owned by the Cheltenham Borough Council but the management of the building and its activities are undertaken entirely voluntarily. The Playhouse Theatre Cheltenham, which leases the building from the Council, has currently around 300 members who are represented by an elected committee which administers the facilities of the building.

The PTC's income is generated almost entirely by the Theatre Box Office and its two bars. It receives no grants or public money and continues to thrive due to its policy of good housekeeping. Over the years, the PTC has made significant improvements to the Theatre to the benefit of its audiences and performers. The club employs box office and cleaning staff who ensure the smooth running of the theatre during normal office hours, when the majority of club members are at their jobs!

It is in the evenings that the theatre comes alive; performances to the general public change every other week, groups utilise rehearsal rooms to work on their current productions, members meet to plan and design future shows, backstage crews construct and paint scenery and those members not actually involved in a show may meet for a social drink in the members' club bar.

The Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre is indeed a thriving and important amenity to the people of Cheltenham. It gives pleasure to literally thousands of people who regularly demonstrate their support by continuing to enjoy the performances staged here. Truly this is Cheltenham's own Theatre, managed, supported and maintained by the people of Cheltenham, for the people of Cheltenham.

Pre-Theatre Days

The mineral springs in Cheltenham were discovered in 1716, at which time Cheltenham was merely an ordinary country village comprising little more than an 11th Century country Church, blacksmith shop, farmyard, parsonage, village inn (The Plough) and a few thatched cottages along a broad street. A brook (The River Chelt) was crossed at irregular intervals by a few stepping stones and the inhabitants' occupation was, in the main, agriculture.

The discovery of the mineral springs began the transformation from village into a Spa. In 1788 a visit of His Majesty King George III with the Royal family to take the waters, bestowed upon Cheltenham a significant level of popularity and fame. George Rowe's Guide in 1846 records "from a mere village it has become one of the most extensive and certainly the most elegant town in the kingdom."

Henry Thompson's Montpellier Baths (now the Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre) opened in 1806 and became a highly fashionable venue at which the waters could be enjoyed. It was evidently an extensive establishment for its time with 14 warm baths, beautifully fitted with marble and Dutch tiles, one large cold bath big enough for swimming (20' x 10') plus smaller ones and a constant accession of fresh water. The boilers were capable of heating the water to 190 degrees with warm air steam rooms available, shampooing and the "Russian" practice of showering after warm bathing (warm 3/- and cold 2/-). The baths even had a distillation plant in which the salts were evaporated out and bottled so that patrons could purchase a concentrate which could be enjoyed "at some distance from Cheltenham".

Dr Jameson, writing in 1809, recommended Cheltenham waters for "dyspepsia, eruption, pimples, inflamations, exudations, scrofulous affections, ulcers of the legs, opthalmies, rheumatism and gout, asthma and cough, female disease, piles, gravelly disorders and worms". Not surprisingly, many distinguished personages visited the town including the Duke of Wellington who came to Thompson's Baths in 1823 to drink the waters and take a course of baths in which it is said he used to sit and read his newspapers.

In March 1898 the medicinal baths were purchased by the Cheltenham Corporation and later converted to a swimming pool and slipper baths. The tiled swimming pool still exists beneath the floor of the main auditorium and serves as a store for stage rostra and other theatrical properties.

In 1945, just before the end of the Second World War, an enlightened Cheltenham Council recognised the lack of facilities in Cheltenham for the expression of drama and converted the swimming pool, which had become rather drab, into a cheerful and intimate theatre. Despite the post war shortages of labour and materials, the cultural needs of Cheltenham won through and a new Theatre was born ....

1945 - The Civic Playhouse

1945 saw the Council funding the services of the front of house staff, the cashier and box office facilities and all the publicity. A consultant producer and resident stage manager were also provided at the Council's expense to assist the amateur groups, although the production requirements and expenses remained the responsibilitiy of the Societies.

On April 9th 1945, with some scenery flats obtained from the Wintergarden Theatre (in Imperial Gardens, Cheltenham), the first production opened in The Civic Playhouse as it was then called. A composite cast and crew from local groups staged Arms and The Man by George Bernard Shaw A highly appropriate choice of play and one which illicited from the playwright himself a postcard of congratulation which read ....

"Three Cheers for leisured Cheltenham!!!    It has trumped the Civic Playhouse of Industrial Bradford.    May the example of the twain be followed all over the British Land."

The Civic Playhouse also received congratulations from Cheltenham born Ralph Richardson, who would have at that time been working with Tyrone Guthrie and Laurence Olivier on reviving the Old Vic Company which also performed Arms and The Man in its first season.

Regular weekly productions followed, maintained chiefly by Cheltenham Little Theatre, Dowty Players and Rotol Amateur Dramatic Society, although out of the societies playing that season, only Cheltenham Little Theatre remains.

A new society was formed, "The Civic Players", attracting new talent to the Theatre and many other groups started to take an interest, including the Cheltenham Operatic & Dramatic Society, Government Communications Theatre Group and the Gloucester Mynd Players. Professional companies came to use the Theatre, The Youth Drama Festival and County Drama Festival were at the Civic Playhouse and many university drama groups came from Cambridge, Birmingham, Bristol, London and Swansea. In August 1948 the Oxford University Company performed the First Quarto version of "Hamlet", which was produced by none other than one Kenneth Peacock Tynan who also played the Ghost. (Donald Wolfit wrote that he would have done better, if he had "discarded the modern craze for crediting Hamlet's father with sepulchral asthma")

The Civic Players published a short monthly pamphlet (The Playhouse Spotlight - price 2d) with members' letters, news and comment on the progress and problems of the time. Much of the editorial concerns itself with issues still current today, such as play selection, auditions, diction and backstage problems. One interesting article (November 1947 Issue Number 31) entitled "Interesting Visitors", however reflects a different era ....

.... and then came Cheltenham Theatre & Arts Club

"Interesting Visitors. Do any of you ever notice the parties of wounded soldiers who frequently come to see our shows on Wednesday nights? These boys are all from Hartbury House near Gloucester, They always thoroughly enjoy the plays and the refreshment afterwards with Mine Host of "The Bell" across from The Playhouse. The Boys are prolonged treatment cases and it will in many cases, be years before they are able to return to civilian life. They are always welcome amongst us at The Civic."

On the 5th April 1950, the Theatre suffered what would have been an irreversible setback: the building was severely damaged by fire. The repair work however, was evidently undertaken with speed and The Playhouse was only closed for five months.

At the end of 1957 the Town Council no longer wished to fund the management of the Civic Playhouse, but were prepared to spend some money on rebuilding some of the facilities so that it could function independently from the Council as a Club. The Cheltenham Theatre & Arts Club was created and the first year's membership was to be 5/-, (you could be a life member for five guineas). The whole operation of running the Theatre became voluntary with all lighting, heating and interior decoration running expenses falling on the Club and it's membership, as indeed they do today. The aims of the Club were to support the Arts in Cheltenham by providing a venue in which people of different artistic interest could meet, pursue their art and discuss their shared or different pre-occupations.

The Theatre & Arts Club subsequently formed a new resident society, "The Playhouse Company", which together with Cheltenham Little Theatre, CODS and GC Theatre Group, took the main responsibility for the production of plays. The Playhouse also provided a centre of activity for about a dozen other cultural groups including The Cheltenham Film and Gramophone Societies.

From it's early days in the late 1950's, The Playhouse has tried to improve it's facilities for the membership. It was not until the 1970's that really notable improvements took place. The old Blacksmith's premises in Oriel Road, which acted as the Theatre's workshop became unsafe and the Council had to demolish it. It was reconstructed as a purpose built workshop keeping the original facade. Sets could be constructed in the dry and flats could be built and painted at their complete height in the new workshop. The old Montpellier Baths, adjacent to the T&A Bar, were closed to the general public and incorporated into the Theatre's complex as extra rehearsal rooms. Seating in the auditorium was raked, an orchestra pit put in and the first computerised lighting board installed. However it has been during the past ten years that the Playhouse complex has undergone the most transformation.

In 1955, we signed a new lease with Cheltenham Borough Council. This enabled the Theatre to obtain Charity status in 2001. The name was changed from Cheltenham Theatre & Arts Club to "The Playhouse Theatre Cheltenham". The Theatre's make over began in 1998 by obtaining auditorium seats from the Theatre Royal, Bath. 1999 saw the Box Office enter the 20th Century by becoming computerised! But the first major building project was to make the whole complex water-tight so we could begin the task of renovation. This took place in 2000.

2002 saw the old club room completely renovated into the "Green Room", complete with its own stage for small scale productions, music and comedy gigs. The Exhibition Room and adjoining hallways were also refurbished at that time, as were the back stage dressing rooms. In 2003 a major upgrade of back stage equipment took place when pullies, ropes, a new Sound Box and a communication system was installed throughout the building.

In the Spring of 2004, it became apparent that the floor of the Foyer required attention. It was found that it had in fact subsided!! This needed major work as the floor and its supports had to be replaced and then the area had to be refurbished. The Theatre Lounge was redecorated at the same time.

Since Christmas 2004, the Theatre has had the lighting gantries extended, extra lighting equipment installed, new Front of House Tabs (curtains) hung and the toilet facilites enhanced with the addition of a Disabled Toilet.

Why not play your part in the future of The Playhouse and help us to ensure the Theatre stays open for the next 60 years. Companies and individuals can offer their help in a variety of ways, at the same time getting closer to the life of the Theatre and the people who work in it. Your support can make a real and invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the Playhouse, ensuring the future success of this worthy organisation.

Theatre Constitution 2006

Click here to see the Constitution of The Playhouse Theatre Cheltenham

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Last Updated 24th April 2005