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Bow

2415

The theatre was part of a 1937 Town Hall building of historic interest in its own right as having been commissioned by the poorest of the Metropolitan Boroughs. The theatre was of pleasant, if somewhat spartan, moderne appearance. It had a variety, rather than scenic, stage with a low grid, a metal cyclorama and very large and deep orchestra pit.

As a municipal theatre of its date (a time not generally productive of good theatres) it was of surprising quality. Apart from the very front rows, sighting was good in the part flat, part raked auditorium.

The stage itself was shallow, but wide, with a proscenium opening of about 10.7m (35ft).

Permission was given in 1989 for a development which would have involved its demolition, which was not implemented for several years. The building was finally demolished, however, in 2000.

Built / Converted
1937
Dates of use
  • 1937 : to 1980s
Current state
Demolished
Current use
Demolished
Address
Fairfield Road/Bow Road (adjoining Poplar Town Hall), London, Tower Hamlets, E3 2SE, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
Poplar Civic Theatre , Poplar Town Hall Theatre
Events
  • 1937 Design/Construction:
    Clifford Culpin (Ewart Culpin & Son)
    - Architect
  • 1937 Owner/Management: Metropolitan Borough of Poplar
  • 1937 Use: to 1980s
  • 1965 Owner/Management: London Borough of Tower Hamlets
  • 2000 Demolition:
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1988: 1200
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    1250
Listings
  • Listing
    Not listed
Stage type
Proscenium flat
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: -
Proscenium width: -
Height to grid: -
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: -