Historian Arthur R. Nicholls describes the history of the theatre in Kendal

OVER the centuries the people of Kendal exercised an ambivalent attitude to drama and the theatre.

Street theatre in its various forms was used to tell the reality of Christianity to ordinary folk in the form of mystery plays, notably at the feast of Corpus Christi, the different Biblical scenes being played by local craftsmen in the market place.

In the Reformation efforts were made to suppress these plays and the feast itself was abolished in 1548.

However, the love of acting is deep-seated and the plays were staged in defiance of the order.

As well as these plays, strolling players travelled about, giving performances in towns, Shakespeare himself being involved with them. In the Civil War public staging of plays was prohibited and theatres closed in London.

The first mention of a theatrical performance in Kendal was in 1727 but it was probably in an inn.

The first known playhouse in the town was in the corner of Market Place. Up some steps on the top left-hand corner of the Working Men’s Institute building was a wool weigh-house, which was converted into a tiny theatre by Thomas Ashburner in 1758.

It did not last long. Within some 20 years it was being used as a chapel.

About 1787 a theatre was opened in a building, still extant, in Woolpack Yard. This was bought in 1823 by the Presbyterians, who worshipped at the beginning against a backdrop of stage scenery.

In 1823 another theatre was opened in the old Butchers’ Arms building in Old Shambles. This too, like other theatrical sites, was short-lived.

In 1829 the New Theatre was opened at the end of Shakespeare Yard, off Highgate. It was advertised grandly as featuring “A Powerful and Efficient Company from the Principal Theatres in the Kingdom”.

Plays such as the famous melodrama, “Maria Marten and the Red Barn” were staged and the actor Edmund Keane played there. However, despite changes in management, this theatre also declined and it closed in 1834.

The upper part became a ballroom and the lower part stables. A public ball was held there in 1863 to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales. The building gradually deteriorated until bought by a Community Church in the 21st century.

The general decline in the popularity of the theatre in the early 1820s was due to opposition from the church, particularly the non-conformists.

The theatre revived in about 1880 when the St George’s Hall was opened.

This thrived as a venue for plays, public concerts and cinema until it succumbed to the bingo craze in 1965, being closed and demolished to make way for the new Blackhall Road, which opened in 1966.

Fortunately, the theatre is well alive in Kendal in the Brewery Arts Centre.