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Not so many years ago, most towns enjoyed the facility of an old theatre close at hand for local people to enjoy a night of joyous entertainment. Although those times have long gone, there are some wonderful survivors, and today's young people still have the same great opportunity of being introduced to the magic world of "live" theatre.
Many of the old halls have undergone massive refurbishments costing millions of pounds; while new centres for the arts bring in new ideas and technology.
It has to be remembered that it is support by the audiences themselves that ensure the future of the local theatres which remain. And that is in our hands.
In his profusely illustrated book, Old Theatres of the Midlands, Terry Kirtland, draws attention to the remarkable survivors, and, sadly, to those which have now disappeared from the street scene.
As you will see, there are some important theatres, like Derby Hippodrome, which need to be saved for future generations to cherish as a place of theatrical entertainment. But there is joy, with the discovery of the old Malt Cross music hall in Nottingham which has taken on a new lease of life as a "new" venue for informal entertainment.
The message is clear: Support your local hall so that it will flourish. And now, read all about them in this fantastic volume of nostalgia which bring back memories of those wonderful days when theatre really was a joy to all !
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