THE BLAKEHAY THEATRE, WESTON-SUPER-MARE

'The Blakehay Theatre', is a 220 seat theatre and arts centre in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England.

Contents

History

The Blakehay today

References

External links

History

Originally built in 1850 as Wadham Street Baptist Church.^[1]
The building was Weston-super-Mare's first Baptist church, and was also the town's first public building. In 1862 Hans Price, who became the town's leading architect, was commissioned to adapt and enlarge the building. The name comes from "Black Hay", a field that originally lay between the High Street and Wadham Street.
During World War II the theatre was hit by incendiary bombs. After the war it was rebuilt inside the original Victorian shell. In 1985 the building ceased to be a place of worship. In 1986 the Blakehay was saved from demolition by the Weston-super-Mare Building Trust and run by the Civic Society.^[2]
In September 2004 Weston Town Council purchased the theatre for £195,000.^[3]
The council has since undertaken further refurbishment of the building.

The Blakehay today

Currently the Blakehay is used regularly for performances and meetings of various kinds in its main auditorium and two studios. The theatre has a resident actors company and The Blakehay Puppet Company, which provides entertainment for children across the town.^[4]
The theatre and studios are used for performances and exhibitions by students of Weston College.^[5]

References

1. Our History
2. Short History
3. Blakehay keys handed over to town council
4. Group Information: Blakehay Puppet Company
5. Higher Education Prospectus

External links

★ Official Website

★ Friends of the Blakehay