35-580: The Golders Green Hippodrome was built in 1913 by Bertie Crewe as a 3,000-seat music hall , to serve North London and the new London Underground Northern line expansion into Golders Green in the London Borough of Barnet , London , England . Taken over by the BBC in the 1960s as a television studio , it has been put to more recent use as a radio studio and multi-purpose concert venue. In 2007, it became an evangelical church building. In 2017 it
70-572: A 3,000-seat music hall by Bertie Crewe , and opened on Boxing Day 1913. Its capacity was reduced by half with the construction of a full theatre stage, and it began to be used for pre- and post-London tours, and has been used as a receiving venue for West End transfers - Laurence Olivier , Marlene Dietrich , Stephane Grappelli , Arthur Askey , Charlie Chester , Django Reinhardt and Chico Marx played there. Donald Swann 's Wild Thyme played in 1955, and its regular performances included an annual pantomime and Ralph Reader 's Gang Show . After
105-603: A Muslim community who have made a great contribution to our borough for decades being driven out.”. In May 2020, the Hippodrome became a pop-up vaccination centre as part of an interfaith drive to promote the COVID-19 vaccine across communities, with faith leaders getting vaccinated themselves. In 2021 Hillsong Church a evangelical Christian megachurch and a Christian association of churches based in Australia bought
140-697: A group formed of various interest groups and local newspapers, including Save London's Theatres Campaign , the Theatres Trust , the Hendon Times and the Hampstead & Highgate Express . In early 2007, the Christian group El Shaddai International Christian Centre purchased the Hippodrome for £5million, despite local concerns over the group's beliefs and its intentions for the building. In 2017, El Shaddai International Christian Centre sold
175-733: A traditional old light entertainment programme it had moved from the Camden Palace Theatre . Presented originally by Robin Boyle and conducted by Sydney Torch , it was presented latterly by Ken Bruce . However, with a public brief to bring music to all of the people of the UK, and with additional high-quality space available all over London, the BBC announced its intention to leave the building in August 2003, after mounting minor repair work, saw
210-568: The BBC Big Band and BBC Radio Orchestra . As a concert venue, it was used in various configurations for: The BBC recorded various radio specials at the Hippodrome, including the famous BBC Sight and Sound concert of January 1978. AC/DC's 27 October 1977 appearance at the Hippodrome for Sight and Sound in Concert was later released on DVD as Live '77 . The BBC also broadcast the weekly radio programme Friday Night Is Music Night ,
245-648: The BBC Concert Orchestra and various special guests, which was musically directed by Trevor Horn . The show was documented on the Pet Shop Boys audio release entitled Concrete . In September 2008, the Corporation of London City Planning Committee, against the advice of the Theatres Trust and various actors, producers and artistic directors, granted a certificate that stripped the former playhouse of its theatre status. The move may save
280-710: The Streatham Hill Theatre opened in 1929, these two venues operated as sister-theatres, with shows appearing at both as part of their tours. Touring opera was still popular at the time, and pre-war performances included the British National Opera Company and post-War in 1952 with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and a filmed production of The Mikado in 1966. The theatre appeared in an early British sexploitation nudist film called Naked as Nature Intended (1961) directed by Harrison Marks and starring Pamela Green . In 1969,
315-540: The Arts Council of Great Britain. The programme notes that there were twelve commissioned poets at the festival, one of whom was Plath's husband, Ted Hughes . Other notable productions include the 1978 première of Whose Life Is It Anyway? , with Tom Conti and Rona Anderson . The Royal Shakespeare Company sometimes transferred Stratford productions to the Mermaid, including a residency during 1987 which saw
350-598: The BBC Concert Orchestra relocate to the Mermaid Theatre in central London, among other places. In 2003, the BBC left the Grade II listed building vacant and deteriorating, although it was bought by El Shaddai International Christian Centre , an evangelical church. After the BBC left the theatre in August 2003, it was left unused and deteriorated considerably, to the extent that, in early 2005,
385-480: The BBC had already applied but been turned down. For planning purposes the Hippodrome came to be classed as 'D2' under the 'Use Classes Order' and not under sui generis , exclusively as a theatre, as no stage productions had taken place for more than 40 years. The 'D2' class meant that potential buyers could use the theatre for: "Cinemas, Dance and Concert Halls, Sports Halls, Swimming Baths, other Indoor Sports and Leisure Uses." The theatre's potential fate galvanised
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#1732775856334420-432: The BBC were looking for additional television studio capacity to cope with the introduction of colour transmissions. They took out a long leasehold on the Hippodrome to 2060 In 1969, the Hippodrome was converted into a radio studio and concert hall with reduced capacity of 700 seats, as the BBC had been looking for a north London venue, and became home for the BBC Concert Orchestra , and also saw broadcasts and concerts from
455-553: The Edwardian Kennington Empire would have been in decline by the time of building. After World War II, many theatres that were not destroyed by bombing were in the way of redevelopment. The building boom of 1885 to 1915 was matched between 1950 and 1975 by theatre demolition. In that 25-year period, 35 theatres were demolished in Greater London alone. Crewe's reputation has been re-established over
490-689: The First World War. Masey's designs include the theatre at Stanford Hall, Nottinghamshire . In the early 1930s Masey worked for Sidney Bernstein on the creation of the Granada cinema circuit, including the Tooting Granada. Crewe's last project, jointly with Henry G. Kay was the Regal, Kennington Road (opened 17 November 1937) by the Arthur O'Connor circuit. Designed as split theatre-cinema,
525-570: The Lincoln Theatre Royal as well as a number of theatres around London. It was after he branched out on his own that he developed what was to become his characteristic Baroque-influenced style. His work around the turn of the century was marked by horizontal balconies tied to ranges of stage boxes and elaborate ornamental features. Cecil Masey trained in Crewe's office, working on large theatres and music halls that Crewe designed before
560-498: The Queen's Revels and Lady Elizabeth's Men . This project, undertaken by Philip Rosseter with distant backing from Henslowe and Alleyn , was ended because of complaints from the neighbourhood's residents. The new Mermaid Theatre opened on 28 May 1959 with a successful production of Lock Up Your Daughters and it was the venue for many other very successful productions, such as Cowardy Custard (often cited as responsible for
595-426: The areaa number of other residence wrote in open letters. A minority reportedly went further, suggesting that "a Muslim presence in the neighbourhood could be dangerous and was undesirable." Barnet Council received 902 objections and 756 letters in support of the application. Sarah Sackman , acting for MTE, said it was hard to see how it had “not been treated differently to other religious groups who have previously used
630-581: The building and it was bought by the Markaz al-Tathgeef al-Islami (The Centre for Islamic Enlightening), a Shia Islamic centre. There was a backlash from some members of the local community of Golders Green towards the centre, claiming that the venue should not be granted a 'place of worship' licence. Notable from Alan Jacobs of the Golders Green Residents Environment Group stressed the group's concern around traffic in
665-433: The building.” Upon selling of the venue Chair of Barnet Citizens Ed Marsh said: “This is a sad moment for the borough of Barnet and sends the wrong message about the type of warm, welcoming and inclusive place that Barnet is" “From the beginning the Markaz have sought to use and preserve an iconic local landmark and have been met with a campaign of smears and lies driven by racism and Islamophobia." “The result of this has been
700-518: The century. Crewe became known as one of the most dynamic architects of the 1890s-1900s, specialising entirely in theatres and later cinemas. He also designed the Paris Alhambra for Thomas Barrasford , which opened in 1904. Crewe trained in Paris and London, where, as a young man, he was a frequent visitor to Frank Matcham's home. Up to the mid-1890s, Crewe collaborated with Sprague, producing
735-468: The decision. In April 2003 Ken Livingstone , the Mayor of London , ordered the council to block the demolition. The BBC Concert Orchestra used it for occasional concerts, and the BBC recorded a weekly radio show, Friday Night is Music Night , which showcased musicians such as the violinist Nigel Kennedy and singer Josh Groban . In 2006, musical duo Pet Shop Boys played a mid-length set accompanied by
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#1732775856334770-521: The developer £6 million worth of Section 106 funding, which it had previously agreed to pay in lieu if it closed the 600-seat Mermaid; the company could be released from the obligation because no theatrical productions have taken place for more than ten years. The existing plans would see the Puddle Dock building converted into a conference centre and fitness suite, plus offices, a nightclub and retail and restaurant space. Campaigners were concerned that
805-540: The last 20 years. In 2004, the Palace Theatre, Redditch , (built 1913) completed a £3.7 million facelift. A now rare example of Edwardian theatre, it was successful in bidding for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Experts believe the Grade II-listed theatre is one of only six examples that can be fully attributed to Bertie Crewe. Mermaid Theatre The Mermaid Theatre was a theatre encompassing
840-656: The revival of interest in Noël Coward 's works) and including an annual staging of Treasure Island , with Miles reprising his role of Long John Silver , which he also played in a television version. The Mermaid Theatre also ran the Molecule Club, educating children about science. In July 1961 the poet and author Sylvia Plath read her poem "Tulips" at the Poetry at the Mermaid Festival, sponsored by
875-566: The site of Puddle Dock and Curriers' Alley at Blackfriars in the City of London , and the first built in the City since the time of Shakespeare . It was, importantly, also one of the first new theatres to abandon the traditional stage layout; instead of this, a single tier of seats surrounded the stage on three sides. The 20th-century theatre was the life's work of actor Bernard Miles with his wife, Josephine Wilson . His original Mermaid Theatre
910-508: The staging of seven plays. Gomba Holdings, a property company owned by Ugandan Asian businessman Abdul Shamji and his family, which claimed to have interests in the Garrick and Duchess theatres as well as Wembley Stadium , bought the theatre in the mid-1980s in the hope of redeveloping the Puddle Dock site. Bernard Miles' tenure as honorary artistic advisor was abruptly terminated and the theatre's importance declined. In 1989, Abdul Shamji
945-468: The theatre for a few months prior to its eventual closure and the termination of the Shamji family's ownership. After a further change of ownership the theatre was slated for demolition in 2002 as part of redevelopment plans. Already it had fallen into disuse, the buildings being used more often as a conference centre than a theatre. A preservation campaign by actors and other supporters attempted to reverse
980-476: The value of working with local communities". adding that "Church use is generally on a Sunday, which Golders Green is better able to cope with" whereas the Islamic centre had applied to be open from 8am until 11.30pm every day. 51°34′19″N 0°11′36″W / 51.57194°N 0.19333°W / 51.57194; -0.19333 Bertie Crewe William Robert 'Bertie' Crewe (1860 – 10 January 1937)
1015-492: The venue was placed on English Heritage ’s ‘buildings at risk’ register as its future had become so uncertain. Barnet Council was keen for the building to carry on being used as an entertainment venue, and the BBC was given 18 months to sell it as such. However, since no buyer was forthcoming, the local authority allowed it to be sold at auction in September 2006 with the potential for being developed for other uses - for which
1050-439: The venue with no notable objection. Rabbi Josh Levy of North Western Reform Synagogue expressed his disappointed to hear of the sale and that we "valued the relationships we have built with the Markaz and its members over these past years." Alan Jacobs of the Golders Green Residents Environment Group welcomed Hillsong Church move into the venue, citing that it was "a progressive, diverse and inclusive organisation which recognises
1085-599: Was a large barn at his house in St John's Wood , north west London. This seated 200 people, and during 1951 and 1952 was used for concerts, plays and a celebrated opera production of Dido and Aeneas with Kirsten Flagstad , Maggie Teyte and Thomas Hemsley , conducted by Geraint Jones, which was recorded by HMV . For the third season in 1953, the Mermaid Theatre was moved to the Royal Exchange . Miles
Golders Green Hippodrome - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-410: Was acquired by Markaz El Tathgheef El Eslami (Centre for Islamic Enlightening). It was to be converted into an Islamic centre, but residents objected, and Barnet council deferred a decision. In October 2021 Hillsong Church bought the Hippodrome, with the intention of holding Sunday services there. The Grade II listed Hippodrome Theatre building next to Golders Green Underground station was built as
1155-589: Was encouraged to build a permanent theatre and, raising money from public subscriptions, and his revenues from publicity spots for the Egg Marketing Board ; he oversaw the creation of the new building on land formerly occupied by a warehouse. This site was close to the location of an abortive attempt, in the Jacobean era , to build a theatre (named Porter's Hall) for the amalgamation of the Children of
1190-515: Was one of the leading English theatre architects in the boom of 1885 to 1915. Born in Essex and partly trained by Frank Matcham , Crewe and his contemporaries W.G.R. Sprague and Thomas Verity , were together responsible for the majority – certainly more than 200 – of the theatres and variety palaces of the great building boom which took place in Britain between 1885 and 1915, peaking at the turn of
1225-548: Was sentenced to 15 months in prison over his involvement in the Johnson Matthey bank collapse. Josephine Wilson died in 1990 and Bernard (by then Lord) Miles died in 1991, financially destitute. Marc Sinden was appointed artistic director in 1993, opening the Bernard Miles Studio as a second performance area, but left the next year. Actor Roy Marsden and Vanessa Ford took over the running of
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