Coventry Theatre

Coventry Theatre was a large entertainment venue on Hales Street in Coventry, England. It opened in 1937 under the name New Hippodrome, serving as a 2,000-seat theatre in the city. The venue was later renamed Coventry Theatre in 1955, reflecting a change in its public identity while retaining its role as a major local stage for theatrical and variety entertainment. One documented cultural event associated with the venue was the 1949 premiere of Alan Melville’s comedy Castle in the Air. After its Coventry presentation, the production transferred to London’s West End, giving the theatre a connection to a production that moved from regional performance into the capital’s commercial theatre circuit. In 1979, businessman Paul Gregg purchased the theatre, after which it was renamed the Coventry Apollo. The new name placed the building within a different phase of its commercial history, although it remained an entertainment venue. The theatre eventually closed in 1985; its final performance was given by singer and actress Barbara Dickson. In its later years, the building was repurposed as a bingo club rather than continuing as a conventional theatre. The former theatre was ultimately demolished in 2002. As a result, Coventry Theatre is no longer an operating venue or active commercial brand. Its historical significance rests primarily on its long period as a substantial Coventry performance space, its successive names, its association with Castle in the Air, and its later conversion and eventual loss as the city’s built environment changed.

Coventry Theatre was established on Hales Street in Coventry and opened in 1937 as the New Hippodrome. The venue had a capacity of approximately 2,000 seats, making it a substantial theatre for the city and a significant local site for live entertainment. Its original name identified it with the established hippodrome tradition of theatrical and variety venues, while its scale enabled it to host major touring and stage productions. The building was already part of Coventry’s theatrical history by 1949, when Alan Melville’s comedy Castle in the Air premiered there. The production subsequently transferred to the West End, linking the Coventry venue with a work that progressed from a regional theatre presentation to London commercial theatre. This is the principal specifically documented production associated with the venue in the available reference material. In 1955, the theatre adopted the name Coventry Theatre. The renaming gave the venue a direct geographic identity and established the name by which it is principally remembered. It continued as a theatre for several decades. In 1979, businessman Paul Gregg acquired the building and renamed it the Coventry Apollo. This marked another phase in the venue’s operating history and placed it under a new commercial identity. The venue closed in 1985. Its final performance was presented by Barbara Dickson, providing a defined endpoint to its career as a working theatre. After the closure, the building was used as a bingo club. This conversion reflected a broader change in use from staged performance to another form of public entertainment, but the building no longer operated as the theatre identified with its earlier history. The former theatre was demolished in 2002. Its physical disappearance ended the site’s use as both a theatre and a bingo venue. Today, Coventry Theatre is a defunct historical venue rather than an operating brand. Its documented story consists of its opening as the New Hippodrome, its renaming as Coventry Theatre, its later operation as Coventry Apollo, its closure and final theatrical performance, its interim use as a bingo club, and its eventual demolition.

• 2002

  Building demolished

  [1]Coventry Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The former theatre building, which had later been used as a bingo club, was demolished.

• 1985

  Theatre closed

  [1]Coventry Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue closed after a final performance by Barbara Dickson.

• 1979

  Purchased and renamed Coventry Apollo

  [1]Coventry Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Businessman Paul Gregg purchased the theatre, which was subsequently renamed the Coventry Apollo.

• 1955

  Renamed Coventry Theatre

  [1]Coventry Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue adopted the name Coventry Theatre, which became its best-known identity.

• 1949

  Premiere of Castle in the Air

  [1]Coventry Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Alan Melville’s comedy Castle in the Air premiered at the venue before transferring to the West End.

• 1937

  Opened as the New Hippodrome

  [1]Coventry Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A 2,000-seat theatre opened on Hales Street in Coventry under the name New Hippodrome.

A large regional theatre and entertainment venue serving Coventry audiences, later repositioned under the Coventry Apollo name and subsequently used as a bingo club.

• 1985

  Closure of the theatreOther

  Background

  The venue had operated under the Coventry Apollo name since its 1979 acquisition and renaming.

  Action taken

  The theatre ceased operations after a final performance by Barbara Dickson.

  Aftermath

  The building was later converted for use as a bingo club before being demolished in 2002.

  Source

• 1979

  Rebranding as Coventry ApolloStrategy

  Background

  Paul Gregg purchased the theatre after it had operated for decades as Coventry Theatre.

  Action taken

  The venue was renamed Coventry Apollo.

  Aftermath

  The building continued as an entertainment venue until its closure in 1985.

  Source

• 1955

  Adoption of the Coventry Theatre nameStrategy

  Background

  The venue had operated since 1937 under the name New Hippodrome.

  Action taken

  It was renamed Coventry Theatre.

  Aftermath

  The new name became the venue’s principal historical identity.

  Source

1. 1Coventry Theatreen.wikipedia.org