I’ve been working at the Century Theatre in Coalville for over a dozen years now. It’s an interesting job and every day is different. There is such a variety of acts to work with and such a wide diversity of people. Whether it's Belvoirdale School’s production, a comedy evening with Alan Carr, Desford Colliery Band or a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, it’s always fun to go to work.
But when I have time to put the day-to-day programme to one side, I do find it incredible that such a unique thing as the Century Theatre is in Leicestershire. A mobile theatre in which Judi Dench and Helen Mirren have acted, which had seats sponsored by Agatha Christie and Enid Blyton (amongst others), which featured in cartoons by Ronald Searle in Punch Magazine, and which has travelled the length and breadth of the country.
There’s a good explanation for it being in Leicestershire. It was built in Hinckley in the late 1940’s with the aim of taking performing arts to communities that didn’t have easy access, in post war Britain, to live theatre. It toured Britain from 1952 until 1975 when it settled for a while in Keswick. I like to say this happened because it failed its MOT!
It became Keswick’s theatre until 1995, when a new “Theatre by the Lake” was built. Leicestershire County Council, thankfully, in recognition of its origins in Hinckley, decided to purchase the Century Theatre and it settled in Snibston, Coalville to continue its working life.
Century Theatre isn’t an accessioned museum piece now, but we continue to run it as a professional theatre serving the communities of Leicestershire. A recent analysis of our audiences showed that people attending the Century Theatre don’t just come from Coalville and North-West Leicestershire, but from a very much wider range of areas of the County and of the broader East Midlands. We continue to develop a varied programme of events. Last Friday, we hosted “Purple Zeppelin” for some heavy rock. On Sunday we had a variety show in aid of Rainbows hospice. Last night was wrestling (a new one for us). Whilst as I write, we’re setting up for “Alice in Wonderland”. As I say, every day is different.
It's unique in the country, probably the world, and I’m so pleased that we have access to this wonderful, and quirky piece of Britain’s heritage.
Have you been to The Century Theatre recently? Perhaps you could make a visit soon. Take a look at their website for upcoming shows.