Ze Historical Facts
The notorious theatre architect Bertie Crewe designed the Burnley Empire Theatre, which opened on Monday 29th October 1894. If you’ve been in one or two of Bertie Crewe’s theatres, you might have an inclining which ones he designed without doing any research. Not that I am saying they’re very similar. Oh no, I’m sure they’re all very different in some minor respect. "Oh you want me to design a Theatre. Of course I can do this for you for a large amount of money. I think I have just the thing..."
The theatre was originally designed to hold a capacity crowd of 2,100 and was reconstructed in 1911 to contain the two curved balconies. In its early days the theatre offered a variety of performances including the reptile queen. A lovely lady who played with snakes and alligators. Infamous stars like Houdini and Chaplin. And Dr Wilford Bodie, who liked to electrocute audience members in a specially built chair and who almost certainly would have got his faced smashed in had he tried that shit today.
1938 saw the conversion of the theatre to cinema at the hands of architects Lewis and Company. The seating was reduced to 1808. It closed its doors in the 60’s, but was reinvented, as most theatres seemingly were, as a Bingo Hall. Happily, the conversion of Burnley Theatre didn’t turn it into a purple and pink monstrosity, and it still retains some of its charm. Bingo fell out of favour in 1995, when the building closed its doors for the last time.
The building is grade II listed and – for reasons which are painfully apparent to everyone but the Burnley Empire Theatre Trust – on the Theatres Trust at risk register. And that’s because it’s properly fucked. Anyone in there should be on an at risk register for their visit and that brings me nicely to out mooch…
Ze Shenanigans
This was the second explore of the day of the Big Manchester Meet, which started fairly early. @albino-jay and I had met up with @The Stig and @AuntieKnickers to take in some local derps ahead of the draining, too many beers later and roof topping that lay in wait. I was already covered in pigeon shit from the first explore and both Albino and Stig had ripped their trousers and were walking around doing their very best elephant impressions.
In terms of getting in, everything was easy enough. No real fun to be had there. However, staying alive while we were in there was, as anyone else who has been will know, where the fun began…
We started up the balconies from the lower lounge to the next level up.
That didn't look terrible healthy.
Group Shot - In Your Projector Roomz - getting to this was like an obstacle course created by death.
Hope you enjoyed the report as much as I enjoyed not dying.
Cheers,
EOA
The notorious theatre architect Bertie Crewe designed the Burnley Empire Theatre, which opened on Monday 29th October 1894. If you’ve been in one or two of Bertie Crewe’s theatres, you might have an inclining which ones he designed without doing any research. Not that I am saying they’re very similar. Oh no, I’m sure they’re all very different in some minor respect. "Oh you want me to design a Theatre. Of course I can do this for you for a large amount of money. I think I have just the thing..."
The theatre was originally designed to hold a capacity crowd of 2,100 and was reconstructed in 1911 to contain the two curved balconies. In its early days the theatre offered a variety of performances including the reptile queen. A lovely lady who played with snakes and alligators. Infamous stars like Houdini and Chaplin. And Dr Wilford Bodie, who liked to electrocute audience members in a specially built chair and who almost certainly would have got his faced smashed in had he tried that shit today.
1938 saw the conversion of the theatre to cinema at the hands of architects Lewis and Company. The seating was reduced to 1808. It closed its doors in the 60’s, but was reinvented, as most theatres seemingly were, as a Bingo Hall. Happily, the conversion of Burnley Theatre didn’t turn it into a purple and pink monstrosity, and it still retains some of its charm. Bingo fell out of favour in 1995, when the building closed its doors for the last time.
The building is grade II listed and – for reasons which are painfully apparent to everyone but the Burnley Empire Theatre Trust – on the Theatres Trust at risk register. And that’s because it’s properly fucked. Anyone in there should be on an at risk register for their visit and that brings me nicely to out mooch…
Ze Shenanigans
This was the second explore of the day of the Big Manchester Meet, which started fairly early. @albino-jay and I had met up with @The Stig and @AuntieKnickers to take in some local derps ahead of the draining, too many beers later and roof topping that lay in wait. I was already covered in pigeon shit from the first explore and both Albino and Stig had ripped their trousers and were walking around doing their very best elephant impressions.
In terms of getting in, everything was easy enough. No real fun to be had there. However, staying alive while we were in there was, as anyone else who has been will know, where the fun began…
We started up the balconies from the lower lounge to the next level up.
That didn't look terrible healthy.
Group Shot - In Your Projector Roomz - getting to this was like an obstacle course created by death.
Hope you enjoyed the report as much as I enjoyed not dying.
Cheers,
EOA
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