Grand Theatre
England · Theatre · November 2020
- Country
- England
- Type
- Theatre
- Published
- November 2020
- Contributor
- UrbandonedTeam
- Images
- 18 photographs
- Videos
- 1
Watch the report
History
The Doncaster Grand was constructed in 1899 and originally stood on a prominent site in a shopping street facing the main railway station. However, town centre improvements robbed it of any sensible context and it is no longer in a street, but attached rather indirectly to the Frenchgate shopping centre. It still faces the station, however is separated from it by a busy inner ring road which comes so close that it has actually snipped off a lower corner of the stage house. The theatre was used until 1958 until the typical bingo conversion. It was threatened with demolition until an energetic local campaign and Friends group secured statutory designation in 1994. The building closed down in the next year.
The architecture in the building is stunning for it's size and it's great to see the old seats with engraved logos in their armrests.
Despite 25 years of abandonment, the theatre has remained in brilliant condition, possibly due to roof maintenance stopping too much water entering.
On the circle, the seats were very intact but much more modern than the ones above.
A closer look at the beautiful designs.
A classic shot to finish with.
