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History
The Co-operative Arts Theatre opened its main auditorium in November, 1948, with a performance of J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls". Since then each year has seen a new season of Plays, Operas, Musicals, Revues and Pantomimes. And what must not be forgotten is that, as well as being the home of its own Theatre Group, it is also available for visiting companies, both amateur and professional.
The actual Theatrical Society can trace its origins back to the early 1900's, when the Co-operative Choir won a gold medal at the Crystal Palace. A Choral and Operatic Group was formed which performed musicals and operas frequently on various local stages. In 1944 there was a production at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham of "The Pageant of the People", and it was that production which prompted members of the cast the form a Drama Group, called The People's Theatre, which produced a number of shows in the Co-operative Hall of the Parliament Street department store.
Then the Board of Directors decided that a centre was needed for the group, which was growing hugely in popularity and they - urged on by the Managing-Secretary, Mr Cyril Forsyth, who later joined the board of the Nottingham Playhouse Trust - purchased the George Street Baptist Chapel for use as a cultural centre. Activities in George Street began in April 1946, where the lower clubroom was used for productions while work was done in converting the chapel, and structural alterations started in June 1946, much of it done by voluntary labour.
The Co-operative Arts Theatre was officially opened on the 7th November, 1948, by Professor B.L. Hallward, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham University, accompanied by a platform of civic dignitaries and other important representatives from the Society, local education, and the professional theatre. It is interesting to note at this point that 1948 also saw the opening of the Nottingham Playhouse on Goldsmith Street.
Over the past fifty years the theatre has firmly established itself in the community. It has a thriving active membership, as well as nearly a thousand season-ticket holders who support the theatre enthusiastically. Over the years many of our members have gone on to successful careers in the professional theatre, not only as actors, but as writers, directors and technicians. We are justifiably proud of them, as we are proud of our own Arts Theatre.
View extensive History of the Arts Theatre
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