Tricycle

Opened in 1929 as the Foresters' Hall, a meeting place and dance hall with a proscenium stage. The Foresters' Mutual Society shop premises are (still) at the front of the building, and the hall is approached through a narrow passageway. The Foresters' still own the freehold. Original is the facade with cartouche, in which is set the name of the building, as is the steel and glass canopy over the narrow street entrance. Enchanting is the overhead gadgetry of symbols designed to represent a tricycle on the ceiling of the passageway. Original, too, are outer walls and the 1929 proscenium (often hidden behind the stage set). In 1980, the interior was converted into the Tricycle Theatre seen today. There is a large bar area, and ante-room doubling as an art gallery; a cinema has been added which lies behind the front of the building, and somewhat to the side of the theatre. The auditorium is designed as a free-standing scaffolding structure with central stalls and two encircling tiers to produce a courtyard theatre, closely corresponding in the underlying geometry to the Georgian Theatre at Richmond. The scaffolding aesthetic is extended to integral stairs and lighting trusses and is completed with wooden floors and canvas in-fill panels. For all its economical, almost temporary appearance, this was soon recognised as one of the most successful auditoria of post-war years. After a serious fire in 1987, it was rebuilt in a form close to the original design but with the shape of the original barrel-vaulted ceiling modified to improve acoustics. It was also at this time that the present foyer and bar space were designed. A 5.5m redevelopment has been announced for 2017 which should result in the installation of a modular stage and an increase of 50 seats on the current seating capacity in an adaptable layout that can be configured for theatre in the round, cabaret and traverse. A new café, improved front of house facilities and more accessible backstage areas are planned along with better wheelchair access.