The Seagull (theatre)
| Address | Morton Road, Pakefield Lowestoft England, UK |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Owner | B.I. Fosten |
| Operator | Hales Group |
| Type | Repertory |
| Capacity | 114 |
| Current use | Active |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1895 |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Closed | 2006 |
| Reopened | 2007 |
| Website | |
| http://www.theseagull.co.uk | |
The Seagull is a theatre and cinema in Pakefield, a suburb of Lowestoft in Suffolk, run almost entirely by volunteers from the local community. It plays host to regional and national touring theatre companies as well as films and other acts, and runs its own production company known as The Seagull Rep. The slogan for The Seagull is "Transforming the Community through the Arts".
The venue has a main auditorium seating of 114[1] including space for wheelchair users, as well as a recording studio, dance studio and bar. The venue also has on-site car parking.
A 2009 production of Macbeth featured former model Abi Titmuss as Lady Macbeth.[1][2][3][4] In 2010 singer Jessie Buckley from the BBC TV show I'd Do Anything performed at the theatre.[5] In 2011 folk musician Jez Lowe from BBC Radio 2 did a show at the theatre.[6]
History
The building is of Victorian origin and was previously the site of the Morton Road School.[7][8] It was converted into a theatre in 1967 and opened as The Seagull.[7][8]
Suffolk County Council, which owned the theatre, withdrew funding in 2006 as a result of budget cuts and the venue closed.[1][9][10][11][12] As a result, The SOS ('Save our Seagull') Charity Trust Group was formed with patrons including actress Dame Judi Dench, actor Des Barrit and regional broadcaster Helen McDermott.[7][9][13] The campaign was also backed by author Louis de Bernières.[14]
In 2007 the council sold The Seagull for an estimated £250,000[12][15] and was reopened in October 2007 with a gala performance by jazz singer Liane Carroll.[16] It is currently undergoing continued renovation and has received investment in the form of new technical equipment.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Caesar.E Abi Titmuss hits the stage in Macbeth, The Times Online, 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ Kendall.P (2009) Abi Titmuss: Glamour girl to Lady Macbeth, The Telegraph, 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ From the wards to the boards, BBC News website, 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ Taking Macbeth to the nightclubs, BBC News website, 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ Jessie all set for Seagull, Lowestoft Journal, 2010-04-16 . Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ↑ Oscar Wilde classic play at The Seagull, Lowestoft Journal, 2011-04-01 . Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Seagull Theatre Lowestoft, Music and Events, 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Save Our Seagull: an artistic vision for the community, Save Our Seagull. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Battle to save popular theatre is won, East Anglian Daily Times, 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ Quinn.M (2007) Supporters rejoice as Lowestoft’s Seagull gets £250,000 lifeline, The Stage, 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ No more free food for council chiefs, Eastern Daily Press, 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Seagull is flying again, East Coast Live, 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ Dame Judi backs theatre campaign, BBC News website, 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ Author Joins Outcry Over Theatre Closure, Eastern Daily Press, 2006-09-09. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ↑ Theatre thrown a lifeline, East Anglian Daily Times, 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ↑ Rescued theatre reopens, Eastern Daily Press, 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
