Gables Theatre

The Theatre was in a Folly, built in 1882 by Alfred Cooper (owner of the Gables Estate), a miniature theatre seating about 250. In 1900 the theatre was converted to a private military hospital for the wounded of the South African Campaign, paid for by Mr Cooper, for which he was knighted the following year. It then reverted to theatre use, and was famous for the productions of R C Sherriff and the Kingston Adventurers Dramatic Society, who were members of the Kingston Rowing Club, to whom the profits were given. In 1927, a professional repertory company took up residence, and it became the Hillcroft Theatre. In 1937 the Folly was demolished for flats.