Another One Bites The Dust.

The stunningly beautiful Gaiety Theatre in Ayr, Scotland closes its doors on January 31st. Probably for good!
The local council has decide to pull all funding and board the theatre up for good at the end of this month.
Built in 1902 and named the Gaiety Palace Of Varieties it was famed throughout the UK right up until the late 1980s for its musical hall and variety shows and it played host to all the big theatre and TV names. A number of these variety shows were screened on TV in Scotland on almost a weekly basis and some screened nationwide.
The Gaiety in Ayr was one of the very few small theatres in the UK that was considered profitable enough to be put on the 'number one' touring circuit presenting lots of pre and post West End shows in its heyday.
At the turn of the 19th century when theatre buildings was rampant, Gaiety was a very popular name for theatres across the county with some 60/70 carrying that name. Sadly today in 2009 only 3 of these still stand and bare that name, the Gaiety Theatres in Dublin, Douglas, and the now ill fated Ayr. The most famous one of all, on The Strand in London, came down in 1956.
An emergency public meeting is being held on Jan14th.

Updated On: 1/16/09 at 08:14 AM

I'd go to the meeting...but it is a long way from home. I will sign a petition if there is one.

This is such a shame, i actually did a show here many years ago

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The Douglas Gaiety is still there and being looked after pretty well.

....such a gorgeous theatre and a classic Matcham gem!

Nearly 700 people attended the emergency meeting on the theatres uncertain future and 4 bidders have now stepped forward to possibly take the venue into their care.
The biggest and probably the most likely contender is Glasgow Pavillion Theatre Ltd, who want to run it along the same lines as it does the Pavillion itself, with a full schedule of music, comedy, variety, musicals and the like.




The Glasgow Pavillion is one of the few theatres in the UK that runs a complete and successful program of productions listed above in the old fashioned style of a full blown variety theatre.
A gorgeous venue with a great atmosphere.

Updated On: 1/21/09 at 07:47 PM

Not really, sadly, no.
If they close and get left to rot the local councils will sign them off.
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I think its about time I set to work on restoring the thread that was deleted last year on old theatres- anybody agree with me, shall I make the effort again? I must admit I did enjoy doing the last one during the moments I had nothing to do.



'Lost Treasures- Beginners Please' -a title I like.

Updated On: 1/21/09 at 06:31 AM