Guiseley Theatre

Guiseley Town Hall was built in 1867 by Sir Matthew William Thompson. His family crest - a hand holding a sheaf of barley - can still be seen above the main door. The Victorian building has an unusually pitched roof of horizontal bands of Welsh and Westmorland slate. The entrance staircase to the theatre is made up of large stone slabs, cantilevered from the walls. The Barney Colehan theatre has stalls and balcony seating for 300. The proscenium stage includes a trap door and the sound and lighting systems are operated from the balcony. The building was never used as a town hall and was renamed Guiseley Theatre in 1985 when it was threatened with closure and taken over by volunteers from the Guiseley Amateur Operatic Society. A scenery workshop was built in 1986 and a wartime ARP building at the back of the theatre was converted to provide rehearsal space and facilities in 1990. There are now long-term plans to build an extension to the rear of the theatre complete with full disabled access to the refurbished first-floor auditorium along with new audience facilities, bar and café.