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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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