Chorley Theatre

Chorley Theatre is a volunteer-run performing-arts and cinema venue in Chorley, Lancashire, England. Its building opened on 3 September 1910 as the New Empire Electric Theatre, a purpose-built cinema developed by the Perfecto Filmograph Co. Ltd. The venue was originally designed for approximately 700 patrons and showed silent films accompanied by live piano music. Its early facilities included central heating, ventilation, and a combination of electric and gas lighting, reflecting the technological ambitions of the period. The auditorium used different grades of seating, with wooden seats at the front and more heavily upholstered plush seating toward the rear. During the 1920s, the building gained a rear entrance from Dole Lane. Designed in a Georgian style and marked by the word “EMPIRE” in the gable, this entrance remains associated with backstage access. The venue also developed a local reputation during the 1950s through early 3D film screenings, before its original cinema operation ended in 1955. It was subsequently used for a short period as a dance hall and later became associated with a car dealership. A major change came in 1960, when the Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society, commonly known as CADOS, acquired the building and converted it into a community theatre. Under the name Chorley Little Theatre, the venue became a base for amateur dramatic and operatic productions, while retaining the architectural identity of its former cinema use. CADOS stages a broad programme that has included drama, comedy, pantomime, and youth theatre. The organization typically presents about six major productions in a season, with an annual pantomime forming an important recurring part of the programme. The venue’s role expanded beyond CADOS productions. Chorley Youth Theatre meets at the theatre and provides regular activity for younger performers. The building also hosts visiting comedians, musicians, community arts events, and other small-scale performances. Since 1990, films have again been screened between theatrical productions, allowing the venue to operate in both theatre and cinema modes. Film screenings continue under the name Chorley Empire Cinema, using the venue’s approximately 21-foot screen. This dual identity reflects the building’s history and gives it a broader cultural function than a conventional amateur theatre. In 2009, the theatre added stand-up comedy to its programme. In 2010, the building was temporarily closed after a deteriorated roof girder was discovered. The closure enabled a restoration and improvement programme reported at approximately £100,000. Works included an enlarged bar, new dressing and rehearsal rooms, a green room, wardrobe accommodation, and additional storage on the third floor. The exterior was repainted and provided with new signage, helping to modernize the venue while preserving its community-oriented character. In January 2019, members approved a rebranding from Chorley Little Theatre to Chorley Theatre. A secret ballot reportedly produced 85 percent support for the new name over alternative proposals. The change presented the venue as a broader arts and entertainment destination rather than one focused solely on amateur theatre. In 2021, the organization opened the Studio, a roughly 100-seat performance and rehearsal space created in a neighboring former Indian restaurant. The Studio includes a bar and toilets and is used for smaller productions, comedy, rehearsals, and special events. Today, Chorley Theatre functions as a local cultural landmark with several connected activities: CADOS theatrical productions, youth theatre, touring comedy and music, community arts, and cinema screenings. Its significance rests not on commercial scale but on continuity, volunteer management, adaptive reuse, and the unusual survival of a building that began as an early twentieth-century cinema and continues to combine film and live performance.

The building now known as Chorley Theatre began life as the New Empire Electric Theatre, opening in Chorley on 3 September 1910. It was constructed by the Perfecto Filmograph Co. Ltd. as a purpose-built cinema with a capacity of around 700 seats. The auditorium included different seating grades, modern heating and ventilation for its time, and electric and gas illumination. Silent films were accompanied by live piano music. A rear entrance from Dole Lane was added during the 1920s. Its Georgian-style stone frontage, decorative wreaths, and “EMPIRE” inscription remain visible, and the entrance continues to serve backstage areas. In the 1950s, the venue was among the regional cinemas experimenting with 3D film presentation. The cinema closed in 1955, after which the building was briefly used as a dance hall and later connected with a car dealership. CADOS purchased the building in 1960 and converted it into a community theatre known as Chorley Little Theatre. The society used the venue for amateur dramatic and operatic work, developing a recurring programme of drama, comedy, pantomime, and youth theatre. The building remained rooted in volunteer activity while gradually broadening its public programme. From 1990, film screenings were reintroduced between theatrical productions. The venue consequently resumed a cinema role under the Chorley Empire Cinema name while continuing to function as a theatre. Stand-up comedy was added to the programme in 2009, and the theatre also hosted music, visiting performers, and community arts activity. A structural problem discovered in 2010 led to a temporary closure after a roof girder was found to be decayed. The closure supported a reported £100,000 improvement and restoration programme. The work enlarged the bar and added or improved dressing, rehearsal, green-room, wardrobe, and storage facilities. Exterior repainting and new signs accompanied the internal changes. In 2019, the organization adopted the shorter name Chorley Theatre after a member vote. The rebrand reflected the venue’s mixture of theatre, cinema, comedy, music, and community programming. In 2021, the neighboring Studio opened as a smaller performance and rehearsal facility with approximately 100 seats, its own bar and toilets, and a role in accommodating intimate productions and special events. The venue remains operated through CADOS and volunteer participation, with CADOS presenting a regular seasonal programme and Chorley Youth Theatre meeting weekly.

• 2021

  The Studio opens

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A neighboring approximately 100-seat space opened for smaller performances, rehearsals, comedy, and special events.

• 2019

  Name changed to Chorley Theatre

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Members voted to replace the Chorley Little Theatre name as part of a broader rebranding.

• 2010

  Restoration and facilities programme

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A temporary closure caused by a decayed roof girder enabled major improvements, including expanded hospitality, backstage, rehearsal, and storage facilities.

• 2009

  Stand-up comedy added

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre introduced stand-up comedy to its programme.

• 1990

  Film screenings return

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue began screening films between theatrical productions, reviving its cinema function.

• 1960

  CADOS acquires and converts the venue

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society purchased the building and established Chorley Little Theatre.

• 1955

  Original cinema operation closes

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema ceased operation and the building subsequently experienced short-term alternative uses, including a dance hall.

• 1920

  Rear Empire entrance added

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A Georgian-style entrance from Dole Lane was added during the 1920s and remains linked to backstage access.

• 1910

  New Empire Electric Theatre opens

  [1]Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The purpose-built cinema opened on 3 September with approximately 700 seats and silent-film presentations accompanied by piano music.

A volunteer-led local arts venue combining amateur theatre, youth performance, comedy, music, community events, and cinema in a historic former picture house.

• Live theatre · 1960

  CADOS main-stage productions

  The core theatrical programme presented by the Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society. It includes drama, comedy, pantomime, and other amateur dramatic or operatic productions, with approximately six major shows generally staged in a season.

• Youth theatre

  Chorley Youth Theatre

  A youth-focused theatre activity based at the venue. The group meets weekly and supports participation, training, and performance opportunities for younger members of the local community.

• Cinema · 1990

  Chorley Empire Cinema

  The venue’s cinema programme, operated within the historic theatre building and using its approximately 21-foot screen. Film screenings returned in the 1990s after the building had become primarily associated with live theatre.

• Performance and rehearsal space · 2021

  The Studio

  A neighboring approximately 100-seat space opened in 2021. It provides a more intimate setting for smaller productions, comedy, rehearsals, and special events, with its own bar and toilet facilities.

• Live entertainment · 2009

  Comedy and live entertainment programme

  The venue supplements its theatrical output with stand-up comedy, touring comedians, musicians, and other visiting performers. Stand-up comedy became part of the programme in 2009.

• 2019Chorley Theatre rebrand

  Chorley · Lancashire

  The organization proposed replacing the Chorley Little Theatre name with Chorley Theatre to better represent its combined theatre, cinema, comedy, music, and community-arts offer. Members voted in a secret ballot, with 85 percent reportedly supporting the change.

  Outcome. The venue adopted the Chorley Theatre name.

  Source

• 2021

  Open the StudioProduct launch

  Background

  The organization needed additional flexible space for smaller productions, rehearsals, comedy, and special events.

  Action taken

  A neighboring former Indian restaurant was converted into an approximately 100-seat Studio with a bar and toilets.

  Aftermath

  The venue gained a second, more intimate performance and rehearsal space.

  Source

• 2010

  Undertake structural restoration and facility upgradesOther

  Background

  A decayed roof girder was discovered, requiring a temporary closure.

  Action taken

  The closure was used to carry out a reported £100,000 programme covering the bar, dressing and rehearsal rooms, green room, wardrobe space, storage, exterior paint, and signage.

  Aftermath

  The upgraded venue reopened with improved audience, performer, and operational facilities.

  Reported restoration and improvement programme. £100,000 programme (2010)

  Source

• 1990

  Restore cinema screenings alongside theatreStrategy

  Background

  The venue had evolved into a theatre after its original cinema closed, but the building’s cinema identity and facilities remained significant.

  Action taken

  Film screenings were reintroduced between theatrical productions under the Chorley Empire Cinema name.

  Aftermath

  The venue developed a dual theatre-and-cinema operating model.

  Source

• 1960

  Convert the former cinema into a community theatreStrategy

  Background

  After the cinema closed in 1955 and the building underwent other short-term uses, CADOS acquired it as a base for local amateur theatre.

  Action taken

  CADOS converted the building into Chorley Little Theatre and developed a recurring programme of dramatic, operatic, comic, pantomime, and youth performances.

  Aftermath

  The building became a long-term community arts venue while retaining its historic cinema infrastructure.

  Source

1. 1Chorley Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Chorley Theatre official websitechorleylittletheatre.com