County Theatre

Located in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The Market Theatre was behind what is now the Green Man public house on the Market Square. Access to the theatre was through the arch in the left of the façade of the pub. The Market Theatre was opened on 21st January 1911 with 400 seats, but the Kinematograph Year Book 1914 has it with 600-seats. It was operated by the Aylesbury Electric Theatre Co. It was destroyed by fire on Easter Saturday 1924.

The Market Theatre was rebuilt to the plans of architectural firm Taylor & White and re-opened on 22nd December 1924 with 648 seats. KYB 1931 indicates that RCA sound has been installed and that the venue presents “Varieties and Pictures”. The proprietor is C. Crocker. By 1937 it was operated by the London & District Cinemas Ltd. chain. KYB 1942 indicates the seating as 648 and “Varieties” is omitted. It was listed in the KYB for 1944 as (Closed).

From May 1948 to 13th March 1954 it operated as the County Theatre, presenting plays performed by a repertory company. The floor of the stalls was leveled, and from 18th May 1954 it became the Grosvenor Rink & Ballroom which had been equipped with a Hammond organ. Later known as the Borough Hall, it was closed in around 1980, and was demolished in October 1980 for the site to be part of the Hale Leys shopping centre.

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