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Woodville Halls

2131

Built in 1968, the building is part of the Council offices complex but standing alongside rather than embedded in it. The two do, however, share a common reception area.

The building is characteristic of its time and in the architectural language of that time, rectilinear, soberly clad with aggregate faced grey slabs and approached across a wide paved space, a somewhat surprising setting in the heart of this old riverside town.

The theatre is a multi-purpose room, square with rectangular extension on three sides. The floor can be flat or raked on hydraulic lifts to permit various configurations for exhibitions, cabarets, banquets or as a proscenium theatre or, with the centre sunk to form a cockpit, for theatre-in-the-round. There is a six row rear balcony with single row slip along one side. The coffered ceiling allows lights to be hung in any position without projecting visibly.

Below the floor of the theatre there is a second hall, the Kent Room, but inadequate soundproofing makes it impossible to use both spaces to best effect. The Kent Room tends to be used for rehearsals or as a band room, but accommodates functions only when the theatre is not in use. Storage space is limited.

Built / Converted
1968
Dates of use
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre (Multipurpose theatre)
Address
Woodville Place, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1DD, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
-
Events
  • 1968 Owner/Management: Gravesend Borough Council
  • 1968 Design/Construction: (Brian Richards - job architect)
    H T Cadbury-Brown & Partners
    - Architect
    Theatre Projects Consultants
    - Lighting
  • 1995 Alteration: altered to combine reception area with that of the Council offices
    Unknown
    - Architect
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    835
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    Theatre-in-the-round 550
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    810 (+50 standing)
Listings
  • Listing
    Not listed
    Comment
    recommended by C20Soc for listing, April 2005
Stage type
Proscenium, flat
Building dimensions: main auditorium 627sq m
Stage dimensions: d: 11m (38ft) apron 10ft w: 36ft
Proscenium width: 10.36m (35ft) h: 12-18ft w: 24-30ft
Height to grid: 19.8m (65ft) 20 c/w bars
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: flexible 26ft x 8ft 8 dressing rooms; orchestra room for 70