The Assembly Hall Theatre is a

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

Tunbridge Wells Royal Tunbridge Wells (formerly, until 1909, and still commonly Tunbridge Wells) is a town in Kent, England, southeast of Central London. It lies close to the border with East Sussex on the northern edge of the High Weald, whose sandstone ...

seating 1,020 people. The theatre hosts a variety of popular music, comedy, family, dance, drama, classical music and variety events, as well as an annual

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...

. Since 1967, the Assembly Hall has been home to the Tunbridge Wells Operatic and Dramatic Society. Their first performance was Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers.TWODS website
/ref> Past performers have included Shane Filan of Westlife, Coolio, Let Loose and The Stranglers.

History

Built by the Tunbridge Wells Corporation and designed by Percy Thomas and Ernest Prestwich, the Assembly Hall Theatre opened on 24 May 1939. When first built, the auditorium had a capacity of 822 on the ground floor, with a further 320 in the balcony. It was also equipped with a 22 ft x 29 ft cinema screen to allow films to be shown. It now seats up to 993 people, with 672 on the ground floor (373 in the stalls and 300 in tiered stalls) and 320 on the balcony (circle).Assembly Hall website
/ref> During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the theatre was used for dances for troops, film shows and events to raise money for the war effort.Kent and Sussex Courier
/ref> By 2001, the theatre was attracting audiences of over 150,000 each year. The theatre was refurbished in 2001 with works including the provision of additional dressing rooms, remodelling the bar, repainting of the foyer and front of house areas, and new seating, air conditioning and other facilities. The auditorium closed again in August 2015 for a £1.5 million refurbishment. New tiered charcoal-coloured seating replaced the previous fixtures. The balcony seating was re-upholstered in the same hard-wearing material. Overheating was addressed and the bar area was redesigned in black, charcoal and gold. Upon reopening, the bar will accept contactless payments.

Location

The theatre is located on Crescent Road, forming part of the Tunbridge Wells Civic Centre in the centre of the town.

Architecture

The building is predominantly built from brick, with details in silver and red bricks and in Portland stone. The walls and floor of the entrance hall are of Roman Travertine Marble, with gold and fawn ceilings. A large lounge was constructed parallel with the main hall, originally designed for suppers to be served when the hall was used for dances.

References

External links

Official WebsiteThe Tunbridge Wells Project – Assembly Hall Image Gallery
{{Royal Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells Buildings and structures in Royal Tunbridge Wells 1939 establishments in England