Forum Theatre

The Forum leisure complex was England's first example of a comprehensive community recreation centre, with facilities for sport and the arts grouped together. In the early 1960s the Urban District Council decided on a policy of civic amenities and cost exercises showed merit in combining all under one roof with the idea of a meeting place – 'a forum for recreation'. It was designed in 1964-5 by Elder, Lester and Partners with A J Ward as the architect in charge. It opened in 1967 with the theatre opening the following year. The complex accommodated five major public amenities including a swimming pool, a theatre, an indoor bowls green, an ice skating rink and a sports hall. The plan for the building was intended to foster the idea of family participation and has always been enormously successful and popular with the public.

The Forum has a striking external appearance as the major internal activities are expressed as architectural elements externally; in particular, the ice skating rink with its span roof and the swimming pool with its canted walls. The positioning of the elements within the building was very simple; the main uses being placed in the four corners. It is of steel frame construction with angled cladding and small square white tiles.

The Forum Theatre was an integral part of the whole complex, sharing the common entrance foyer, restaurants, bars and toilets. It was essentially designed for a family night out and the boxes that figure so prominently in the design are for this purpose. Seating is in fan shaped stalls in three blocks, and the auditorium walls are 'papered with people' with shallow balconies creating a series of boxes on three levels designed with high quality slatted timber fronts. It is an exceptional modern auditorium, extraordinarily warm and intimate, made even more so by the superb quality of the wood finishes. No seat is more than 60ft from the stage. The upper balcony provides the lighting gallery with access to the control and projection room at the rear of the second balcony. Its design can be compared to that of the Barbican by Chamberlain Powell & Bonn (theatre element John Honer), because of the bowl-like shape of the auditorium and the shallow balconies around the sides.

There are 13 hemp sets and 28 counterweight double purchase sets with a maximum flying height of 75ft. The first 20ft of the auditorium floor is constructed in sections which can be manually removed to create an orchestra pit of 33ft x 9ft. The theatre can also be converted into a conference centre or a cinema complete with projection room and screen. Above the proscenium opening is an acoustic hood that can be adjusted for variations in performance. There is no proscenium frame. The theatre is fully equipped with workshops, dressing rooms, scene dock and prop stores which are located beneath the stage.

Late in 2000 the local authority suggested that the Forum Complex should be demolished to make way for a superstore. A new site would be provided for the sporting activities but no site was indicated for a new theatre, which was also not costed. However, this is an outstanding and novel theatre of architectural and historic interest and was Statutory Listed in October 2004. The Forum Theatre is now physically separated from the rest of the complex but remains very popular with a good management hosting a range of shows.

Tees Active has been operating the Forum Theatre in Billingham since 1 April 2023.