Spa Theatre

The New Spa Theatre opened in 1896 designed by architect S. Dyer with architectural firm Mangnall & Littlewood. It burned down in 1906. Its replacement was designed by W.S. Walker of the architectural firm Broderick, Lowther and Walker who were based in Hull.

The proscenium arch is almost square with a central cartouche containing a mask. Seating is divided between stalls and single balcony, however the balcony is divided into two sections, with separate entrances and retains its wooden partition. A large dome in the centre of the ceiling contains some bas-relief figures.

The Spa survived intact a major fire which destroyed the adjacent Royal Hall (rebuilt) in 1932 - the Spa was closed for just a few weeks to clean up after smoke damage.

After the closure of the Winter Gardens/Coliseum Cinema the Spa Theatre was equipped with cinema facilities and when not used for live shows films were screened. The screen was flown in the fly tower when the stage was in use. However the opening of the awful Forum three-screen cinema ended the cinema usage of the Spa in 1996.

The proscenium is 9.14 mtrs wide, stage depth 5.79 mtrs.

It has recently undergone a massive re-furbishment and re-opened on 31st May 2008.

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Ian on March 1, 2007 at 5:47 am

Photos of the 2007 refurbishment works here:–

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jasper on August 18, 2007 at 10:28 am

Does anyone have any new ‘sneak’ photos of the progress of the spa refurbishment- All seems to have gone ‘quiet’.I believe reopening has now been delayed until 2008?. Correct me if Im wrong but I fear that projection facilities for film have been removed as part of the refurb. Having appeared in stage shows in the theatre a few years ago, I have seen the screen up in the fly tower- in 200l/2 it was not in a very good state.

Ian on August 18, 2007 at 11:03 am

I had hoped to be invited back for a progress press event by now, but as you say it has gone quiet! When I was there the screen was still intact in the tower, but the 3 screen Forum (dreadful venue) seems to have sapped the market for films from the Spa. From what I saw of the renovations, film is not a consideration when it reopens.

jasper on August 18, 2007 at 11:32 am

Would really like to talk to you direct on some of the projects we are both interested in as you will see I think a positive battle is about to start to save the palace theatre in Huddersfield- I do admire your work and your photography cheers!– somebody has got to ‘rattle the cages’!

jasper on August 18, 2007 at 12:09 pm

Thanks for that, can you imagine when that website was last updated?– certainley ‘joe Pascuale’ will look a little older by now- ERYC dont seem to keen to tell us what going on at the moment-leave it much longer and they will loose all the business to scarborough spa- love that theatre- hope that they havent ruined it- mind you it needed work- I was in a Brid amateur prouction of ‘Oklahoma’ during easter 200l- we were supposed to be in ‘that dry state’ and it was ‘snowing’ on to us through a ‘hole’ in the roof of the fly tower!

Ian on September 20, 2008 at 2:14 am

Some photos of the restored, resplendent and reopened Spa Theatre here (taken September 2008). Films are no longer shown however:–

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Ian on April 19, 2010 at 3:11 am

Films return to the Spa Theatre. Starting in May 2010 there are to be weekly screenings of classics in the restored Spa Theatre, which retains stalls and circle seating. A Saturday morning kids cinema will also begin trials.

Live shows still predominate.