Bungay
Fisher Theatre
THE
HISTORY
During
the 1820’s David Fisher built 13 Theatres in East Anglia to accommodate
his Company of Norfolk and Suffolk Comedians” The Company toured
the province in a 24 month cycle and its arrival in town was the highlight
of the social calendar for the rich and poor. Families of the Gentry
who lived in outlying villages too far away to make a daily pilgrimage
took up residence in town during the two-month season. The town was
packed with avid theatregoers eager to briefly participate in the excitement
that was so far removed from their daily lives.
In the
mid 1840’s the theatres were shut down. The Fisher Theatre in Bungay
was sold for £500 for use as a Corn Hall; later it became a cinema,
skating rink, laundry and finally a warehouse. Despite its’ chequered
history it is the best preserved of all the Fisher Theatres. The façade
is intact, the pit still visible under the Corn Hall floor, the boxes
where the gentry sat have gone but when you walk across the original
stone floor in the foyer and into the auditorium you are in no doubt
that you are in a theatre.
WHAT’S
HAPPENING NOW
In
2001, with a loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Bungay Arts
and Theatre Society bought the building to fulfil a six-year ambition,
namely to provide the town with a building where art could flourish.
There is no way that a small market town could support a full time theatre
in the 21st Century; the building is being refurbished to become a space
for drama, music, dance, film, workshops: a place to cater for the diverse
enjoyments of the whole community.
We are planning lots of activities
for the Spring and Summer, including arts workshops and a film club.
Come to this website to keep up to date with what is going on. Fundraising
events to date include readings from such notable people as Louis de
Bernieres, Elizabeth Jane Howard and Janet Suzman.
LOCAL
LOTTERY
If you would like to help swell our funds in a truly altruistic way
you could join our Local Lottery. Forget spending a pound a week and
never winning a tenner, for just 50 pence a week you can have a one
in three hundred and fifty chance (that’s really high by lottery
standards) of winning £100 twice a month. Cheques are sent directly
to the lucky winners.
Write to Wendy Williams at Lilac Cottage, 21 Flixton Road, Bungay NR35
1HQ for a Standing Order form.
FISHER
YOUTH THEATRE
For information about the Fisher Youth Theatre please go to www.fytg.co.uk
or phone Colin Cook on 01986 893071.
THE
FISHER THEATRE PROJECT
If
you would like to know more about the Fisher Theatre Project, be put
on the Database or take part in activities over the summer please contact
B.A.T.S. at 10 Joyce Road, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 1LA.
For anyone
interested in the history of the Fisher Theatre a small booklet “Full
Circle with The Fishers “ by Ivy Collins is available for £2.50.
Send a self-addressed A5 envelope to the above address.
www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk
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