Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centre is a theatre and community centre situated in Spain Lane,

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...

, England. The building is a remaining part of a mediaeval friary.

Building

Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centree is

Grade II* In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

listed. The two-storey building was the

refectory A refectory (also frater, frater house, fratery) is a dining room, especially in monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminaries. The name derives from the La ...

of a Dominican friary that was "heavily restored and altered" in 1963 when an eastern gable was rebuilt with casement windows added. The interior retains a 17th-century staircase, although not in its original position. ''

Pevsner Pevsner or Pevzner is a Jewish surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aihud Pevsner (1925–2018), American physicist * Antoine Pevsner (1886–1962), Russian sculptor, brother of Naum Gabo * David Pevsner, American actor, singer, da ...

'' describes the building as a long "Friars Hall", running on an east to west axis with its upper floor previously the refectory. At the Suppression of the Monasteries material from the Friary was used to repair sea walls. Blackfriars Friary was formed some time during the 13th Century. The first written record is from 1288 when it was noted that the friary had been rebuilt after being destroyed by fire. In 1300 the friary housed a total of 29 friars. The surviving building was converted into a theatre in 1965. Blackfriars is said to be haunted by a friar, who hides sharp objects left by theatregoers under the stage.

Use

The Centre's first professional director was appointed in 1980, but today it is completely run and managed by local volunteers with the help of a full-time theatre technician.. It comprises a theatre with a 230-seat auditorium, a foyer gallery, a revue bar, and an art studio.Burton, Melanie
"Plaza will set the scene: Blackfriars – a theatre in dreamland"
''Lincolnshire Life'', April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012 In former days the arts centre provided art classes, including night classes in still life, life drawing, screen printing, needlework and photography. It included various residences and numerous outreach workers throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Groups which use the arts centre currently include the Boston Playgoers, BOS Musical Theatre Group, and Cutwater Theatre Group. There is also a very active Theatre Academy for children from 4 to 19, and a number of other organisations meet here including U3A, Ballet schools, and Lithuanian Community Groups. Rooms are available for hire. The building hosts performances, workshops, classes and other activities, and has a rolling art exhibition, generally featuring local artists, which is changed monthly. Stump Radio was established at the centre with help from Spalding's

Tulip Radio Tulip Radio was the local community radio station covering the area of Spalding, Lincolnshire, England. The name was linked to Spalding's heavy involvement with the horticulture industry. The town was famous for its tulips, and used to host an ...

, and broadcast during July and August 2006, and in 2007. The station is now Endeavour FM, presenting news, music and community events through local presenters.

References

External links

{{commonscat, Blackfriars Arts Centre
Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centre
- official site
Boston Children's TheatreEndeavour FM
Theatres in Lincolnshire Community centres in England Culture in Lincolnshire Grade II* listed buildings in Lincolnshire Tourist attractions in Lincolnshire Organisations based in Lincolnshire Buildings and structures in Boston, Lincolnshire