On this Day 1965: Theatre on the Steps Bridgnorth

OTD, March 19th, 1965…

Lionel Hampden visits the Theatre on the Steps at Bridgnorth in Shropshire. The theatre came into existence in 1964 when the Congregational Chapel halfway down Stoneway Steps was bought by the local Amateur Dramatic Society. The chapel had closed in 1962 due to the union of the three chapels in Bridgnorth – the Methodists, Primitive Methodists and Congregational who then merged as the United Reformed Church and began worshipping in Cartway.

In the ATV Today report Hampden describes the new performance venue which was, at the time, still under construction. Located between the high and low towns Lionel heads inside the theatre and talks to director Peter Taylor about the plans for the theatre and we see interior shots of the unfinished building.

The Theatre has 180 seats, 120 in the stalls and 60 in the Balcony, the original seating was donated by a nearby Odeon Cinema which was being renovated. The theatre officially opened in late 1965.

The theatre is run and staffed by volunteers and it does not receive any contributions to its running costs from the Arts Council or local government and relies solely on the profit it makes from the shows it stages to keep the theatre running and to pay the majority of the refurbishment costs.