The Stage

The Grand history of Matcham’s masterpiece

Published Thursday 28 October 2004 at 11:10

The 110-year-old Blackpool Grand has fought off many obstacles, not least an attempt to turn it into a shopping centre, thanks to the determination of its many supporters, writes Pamela Watford.

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre, one of the few remaining theatres designed by Frank Matcham, has fought to survive into the 21st century. Its existence was threatened in the seventies, but efforts by theatre lovers helped The Grand to thrive and reach its 110th birthday.

In 1887, Thomas Sergenson, who already had other rented theatres, bought property on the corner of Church Street and Corporation Street (then St. Ann Street), where he planned to build a new modern theatre and shops. But his theatre plan was put on hold until he saw the outcome of the Winter Gardens Company’s plan to build a new Opera House. Instead of building his theatre, Sergensen built a large wooden building, which opened on July 11, 1889, with Ohmy’s Circus. In 1890, he built part of the theatre wall, and erected the circus inside it. However, he decided he could not compete with the planned opening of the Tower, with its own circus. He went ahead with the theatre and commissioned Frank Matcham, who had designed the Opera House, to design “the best, prettiest and cosiest theatre possible”.

At a cost of £20,000, The Grand Theatre opened shortly after the Tower, with Wilson Barrett in Hamlet, complete with silk programmes scented with a new perfume - Tower Bouquet.

Sergensen went from strength to strength and had a good relationship with another successful producer, George Edwards. His musical comedies were money spinners, and played the Grand in the prime holiday weeks in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Sergensen sold the theatre to the Blackpool Tower Company and it thrived, with touring companies and top actors appearing there. Drama contrasted with variety, and later, stars like Noel Coward and Gracie Fields appeared. In 1938, Laurence Oliver presented the play Born Yesterday and in 1952 Arthur Askey starred in Love and Kisses. In the sixties, the summer seasons included George and Alfred Black’s comedy presentations, such as The Best Laid Schemes with Thora Hird and Freddie Frinton in 1962 and We’re Flying Tonight with Jimmy Clithroe and Mollie Sugden in 1963.

In later years the Grand hit troubled times, and faced demolition in 1972, after EMI had bought out the Tower Company five years earlier. Plans to build a big store on the site were abandoned after theatre lovers, including actors and managers began the fight to save the Grand.

The Friends of the Grand were born, and the original friend, Jeffrey Finestone, started the ball rolling to keep the theatre alive. It was made a Grade II listed building, the Friends formed the Blackpool Grand Trust and after a long struggle, the Grand was saved.

EMI restored the theatre, with the condition that bingo in the theatre would not be opposed. Fundraising continued and the Trust, with support from other bodies including the Arts Council and North West Tourist Board, finally bought the Grand for £250,000, in October 1980.

The theatre re-opened in March 1981, as in 1894, with Shakespeare. Prunella Scales and Timothy West starred in the Old Vic Company’s Merchant of Venice. Shortly afterwards, Prince Charles attended the Royal gala re-opening. The Queen and Prince Philip attended the Grand’s centenary celebrations in 1994. The Grand’s assistant to the managers, David Fletcher, recalls that in past times the dwarfs who worked in the theatre had their own bar under the gallery and some of them still pop into the Grand today.

Today, David has in his care souvenirs of the Grand, which include old programmes, the original scented silk programme from the opening night, and remnants of the original drapes. The 100-year-old original green curtains had to be replaced when repair and cleaning were needed, but the theatre was told the curtains would fall to pieces if washed.

After a new phase of refurbishment was completed in 2002, which included restoring the ceiling, fundraising is continuing to raise £500,000 through the Sam Lee Appeal. Current plans are to renew seating in most parts with wider seats and improve toilets and facilities for the disabled. The Gallery’s padded benches will be replaced by 170 individual seats and the theatre’s seating capacity of 1,200 will be reduced to 970, allowing more leg room.

Jon Conway’s traditional summer shows, which he has produced at the Grand since 1988, have scored with a wide audience, often breaking box office records in recent years. This year’s summer shows, Boogie Nights with Billy Pearce and Jimmy Osmond, and the Cannon and Ball/Grumbleweeds shows, have proved a winning formula.

It could have been a different story without the efforts of supporters like the Trust’s Vice President Burt Briggs, who was the first chairman, Sam Lee, an original trustee and chairman of The Trust from 93 to his death in 2003, and original Friends Jeffrey Finestone and Violet Carson, who has a foyer window dedicated to her, are remembered by theatre plaques.

Matcham’s name lives on in Matcham’s Bar, at the rear of the theatre. His delightful and compact theatre has delighted artists and audiences alike, who warm to the intimate, atmosphere of Matcham’s masterpiece. Against the odds it has survived, but the work goes on to preserve the Glorious Grand for future generations.

• Blood Brothers plays the Grand, from November 2-13, and Ken Morley stars in this year’s panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, from December 9-January 4, 2005.