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The Lane Theatre
is run and mainly used by members of the Newquay Dramatic Society
which was formed in 1930.
In the early
days the NDS performed at the end of Town Promenade in a marquee,
rehearsing in local hotels. The Society began to branch out after
1945.
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| Authentic
1940s furniture for Black Chiffon |
By the 1960s
a village hall in Crantock had been purchased to provide a rehearsal
room, a scenery store and a social room. During this period the
troupe played in Newquay’s Cosy Nook theatre at either end of the
summer season.
By the end of
the 1970s it was clear that the NDS needed a new base. In 1981 they
were able to perform in their current home, the Lane Theatre.
Local businessman
David Eyles was the driving force behind the move to the almost
derelict site. Plans were completed in such a short space of time
that as the audience came in for the inaugural show, the carpet
fitters were leaving by a different doorway.
Ten years after
moving into Lane, an extension was opened which included a meeting/rehearsal
room and a bar area. In 1999 the building received lottery funding
for new dressing rooms and general upgrading.
The NDA put
on four plays a year, two in the summer for 10 weeks each and two
shorter runs in the winter.
At other times
during the year the space is used for rehearsal and one act plays.
The capacity of the theatre is around 160 and tickets are normally
£5.
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| Preparations
continue for the new production |
Every performance
opens with a he
audience is pregala charity night. A charity is selected to benefit,
then they will sell the tickets and keep the revenue. Over £2000
will be raised in 2001.
In the summer
t
dominantly tourists,
with many people returning year after year to visit the Lane. The
plays are normally comedies although challenging work such as Ibsen
has been put on.
It would be
wrong to see the building as the sole preserve of thespians. The
Newquay Society of Artists hold meetings at the Lane. Their work
is displayed in the green room, where paintings are sold, and their
work often adorns the stage sets.
While the theatre
is beautifully kept, behind the scenes it still needs funding for
a failing heating system. They are always on the look out for the
county's young talent too.
The theatre
is currently playing Black Chiffon by Lesley Storm which is running
from November 28 to December 15. Death Trap, a suspense thriller
opens on February 13 and finishes its
run on March 2. The summer season will see a premiere of Eric Chappell’s
new play Summer’s End. Eric wrote the television series Rising Damp,
among many other credits.
Tickets for
all shows are available from Newquay Library on (01637) 876945.
Email the theatre:
lanetheatre@cs.com
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