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Gaiety

2118

One of the best and most exciting of Matcham’s surviving theatres. Excellent stuccoed façade - busy and festive. Three-storeyed towers with low pyramid roofs and dormer pediments on each face, flanking a two-storeyed centre section with a columned loggia at first floor level, surmounted by a curved gable. Higher curved gable to rear wall of auditorium rising behind, with a small pediment on top.

Splendidly opulent auditorium, fitted by Matcham into the narrow shell of Rennison’s 1893 Pavilion (and the even earlier Marina). Matcham incorporated the Marina’s Belfast roof truss construction into the Gaiety reconstruction, as well as reusing a number of pieces of architectural ironmongery, including the supporting cast iron column at the rear of the stalls. The reorganisation of the volume is masterful, producing an exquisite and well equipped theatre from these old and extremely unpromising beginnings. Having never ‘benefited’ from a destructive modernisation programme the theatre is being methodically restored to its original specification. Victor Glasstone’s sympathetic refurbishment in 1978 started a process of restoration which has continued to an exemplary standard.

The theatre’s stucco façade was restored in 1995 and the words ‘Gaiety Theatre and Opera House’ highlighted in gold leaf. The original front canopy was restored to include leaded lights and four large lanterns mounted on the supporting columns of the canopy (these are very similar to the ones on the Buxton Opera House canopy).

The auditorium has two balconies, set well back from the stage, the lower one running into a range of three boxes either side with half-domed plaster canopies over, projecting beyond the face of the straight slips of the upper balcony. Rectangular proscenium opening set within a segment-headed frame. Painted tympanum with figures of putti. Magnificent ceiling with painted panels of the four seasons. The whole thickly encrusted with richly modelled Baroque plasterwork.

Restoration since the 1980s has included the re-creation of the rich box hangings and fine printed wall papers and more recently the re-introduction of the stalls barrier that once separated the front stalls from the pit. The rare painted act drop by William Hemsley was restored in 1992 and is used on a regular basis. The 16 segment stained glass rosary laylight, centered around the original gas sunburner, forms the central feature of the auditorium ceiling. It was restored in 1992 after the discovery of one of the shattered glass petals in the roof space above the auditorium. Lit from above, and enhanced with simulated gas effects from the sunburner, this feature completes one of the finest auditorium ceilings in the British Isles.

Further restoration works have included the gallery (which was retiered for cinema use in the 1950s) and front of house areas e.g. dress circle bar. The restored stage includes 2 bridges, 2 cuts with sloats, 2 corner traps, 1 grave trap and (uniquely) a fully working Corsican trap - once a common feature of the nineteenth century English wood stage but now everywhere destroyed.

The theatre is now owned by the Manx Government whose commitment to faithful restoration is particularly commendable.

Built / Converted
1900
Dates of use
  • 1900 : continuing
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre
Address
Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2HH, Other
Website-
Further details
Other names
pre Marina , Pavilion
Events
  • Owner/Management: Currently owned by the Manx Government and operated by the Department of Tourism
  • 1893 Design/Construction: as the Pavilion
    W J Rennison
    - Architect
  • 1900 Owner/Management: Built by the Palace & Derby Castle Co Ltd
  • 1900 Use: continuing
  • 1900 Alteration: new theatre built within old shell
    Frank Matcham
    - Architect
  • 1900 Design/Construction:
    Jonas Binns of Halifax
    - Consultant
    paintings and murals
    A R Dean & Co
    - Consultant
    fibrous plaster seating and drapes
  • 1978 Alteration: major refurbishment
    Victor Glasstone
    - Architect
  • 1980 Design/Construction:
    Victor Glasstone
    - Consultant
    renovation work
  • 1988 - 2000 Design/Construction: Array
    Theatresearch
    - Consultant
    restoration and re-equipment
    Victorian Stained Glass of London
    - Consultant
    auditorium rosary laylight restored
    Cast Iron Workshop of Dewsbury
    - Consultant
    front canopy restored
    International Fine Art Conservation Studios of Bristol
    - Consultant
    auditorium murals and act drop
    Hayles & Howe of Bristol
    - Consultant
    external stucco and auditorium fibrous plaster restoration
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    2000+
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1908: 2408 (Stage Guide)
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    896
Listings
  • Listing
    Unknown
    Comment
    Of outstanding architectural or historic interest
Stage type
Proscenium with 1:24 rake
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: Depth: 15.25m (50ft) Width SL: 3.96m (13ft) SR: 1.5m (5ft)
Proscenium width: 8.68m (28ft 6in)
Height to grid: 14.63m (48ft)
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: Small pit 10.21m x 2.21m accommodates 15 players