The Blakehay Theatre is a 207-seat theatre in

Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare, also known simply as Weston, is a seaside town in North Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. It includes the suburbs of Mead Vale, Milton, Oldmix ...

North Somerset North Somerset is a unitary district in Somerset, South West England. Whilst its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the ...

, England. Its building was originally a 19th-century

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul c ...

church.

History

The theatre building was Weston-super-Mare's first Baptist church, built in 1850 as Wadham Street Baptist Church, and was also the town's first public building. In 1862

Hans Price Hans Price (1835–1912) was the architect responsible for much of the development of Weston-super-Mare, in North Somerset, England, during the Victorian era. Life Hans Fowler Price was born in St James's parish, Bristol. He studied under Thomas ...

, who became the town's leading architect, was commissioned to adapt and enlarge the building. The name comes from "Black Hay", a field that originally lay between the High Street and Wadham Street. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

the theatre was hit by incendiary bombs. After the war it was rebuilt inside the original Victorian shell. In 1985 the building ceased to be a place of worship. In 1986 the Blakehay was saved from demolition and replacement with a block of flats by the actions of the Weston-super-Mare Building Trust and run by the Civic Society who converted into a venue for amateur and professional events and public meetings. In September 2004 Weston Town Council purchased the theatre for £195,000. *1850 – The Blakehay is built as Wadham Street Baptist Church *1862 – The building is enlarged *1985 – The building closes as a place of worship *2004 – Weston-super-Mare Town Council purchases The Blakehay *2010 – Refurbishment begins- Work starts on refurbishing parts of the building including new toilets and bar area *2011 – present – The Blakehay Theatre is a community theatre for the residents and visitors of Weston-super-Mare

Current use

The Blakehay Theatre operates as live events venue, programming local and regional theatre, music and dance. Facilities in the building include the main Auditorium, Upper Studio, Theatre Bar, two dressing rooms and a box office.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blakehay Theatre Theatres in Somerset Buildings and structures in Weston-super-Mare 2011 establishments in England Churches completed in 1850