Malvern Theatres

This is now a two theatre venue with a cinema. The first step towards the creation of an entertainment centre for Malvern was taken in 1883 when the Promenade Pleasure Gardens were purchased by a newly formed company. A new Great Hall and Assembly Rooms with a glazed promenade was built in 1885. Alterations and additions were made over succeeding years. The most important of these being the building of a picture house in 1923 and a new hall replacing the promenade and conservatory in 1928. A three storey building was erected in 1949 to provide dressing rooms.

However, the £6.5 million reconstruction which took place in 1997/98 transformed the whole complex. A new fly tower was built with 36 counterweight lines, the auditorium was altered, new foyers and a new theatre space (The Forum) were created, the latter within the existing hall.

The main auditorium now houses 840 on two levels. The old stage boxes have been removed and the slips have been extended creating a spacious feel to the auditorium. The circle and box fronts have been decorated with a geometric pattern which reflects that of the frieze. The proscenium arch is framed by ornamental moulding and the whole redecoration has followed the colour scheme of 1885. It is said that part of the 1885 ceiling remains above the newly suspended ceiling at circle level. There is also interesting archaeological remnant in the administration corridor which runs behind the circle and where the 1997 building programme exposed part of the original external wall - this has been retained as a feature.

Public space is of an exceptional quality - light attractive, airy and abundant, it furnishes the theatre with an exciting modern entrance, which can also be used for performance as the wood floor is sprung.

The Forum Theatre (formerly the Elgar Hall) is a flat floored space, transformed into a theatre by retractable tiered seats and a balcony. The cinema is also used for conferences.