Our History
The Priory Theatre has a history spanning over 90 years!
With everything from name changes to our theatre burning down, we’ve certainly got a past to shout about.
We’ve summarised the last 90 years here, but if you’ve got photos or a specific memory that we’ve missed then we’d love to hear from you!
The Kenilworth Players
The Priory Theatre Company gave its first performance, as the Kenilworth Players, on 13th January 1932 on a portable stage in the old Abbey Hotel Ballroom. After six productions, the Players disbanded in 1939 leaving their stage and equipment in a timber yard near the centre of Coventry where miraculously, most of it survived the war!
A New Theatre
Late in 1945 work began on converting a disused Chapel (built in 1816) into a Theatre as a permanent home for the newly reformed Players. Using the original stage equipment and timber from the cases which housed aircraft being convoyed across the Atlantic during the war, a stage and raked auditorium were built and the Priory Theatre opened on 8th April 1946.
Theatre Improvements
In 1947, the rear of the stage was extended. In 1951 the Dress Circle was built, upholstered seating installed throughout and by the summer of 1952 there was a kitchen and two first floor Dressing Rooms.
By 1965 the stage had been extended again to more than double its original depth and a new foyer built at the front of the building.
Priory Young Stagers
A 'Graduate Section' had been in existence in the early 1950's, but it was not until 1967 that the 'Young Stagers' were formed to encompass the talents and enthusiasm of the young people who had appeared in a major production that year.
Now called the Priory Youth Theatre, they are a flourishing part of the Theatre, contributing to Main Theatre productions as well as staging major productions.
Priory Theatre Company
In 1968, the Kenilworth Players became the Priory Theatre Company and in 1972 gained admission to the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain. By 1974 a Lounge Bar had replaced the Dressing Room off the Circle Foyer.
The Fire of 1976
But on 4th September 1976 came the destruction of thirty years work when fire gutted the Theatre. Undaunted, the members set about the rebuilding, making great improvements to all areas, especially the back stage facilities. Four full scale productions were staged at local Amateur and Professional Theatres while rebuilding continued and the Gala Re-opening took place on 28th September 1978.
One year later, the Company was hosting its first Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain National Conference and welcoming delegates from all over the country to a packed weekend of activity.
Rehearsal Studio & Wardrobe Department
Early in 1979, the Company purchased the old National School (built in 1832 and subsequently Kenilworth Library) just one hundred yards from the Theatre. This now provides the Rehearsal Studio and Wardrobe Department.
The 1980’s
In 1982, the Golden Jubilee was celebrated with a bumper season of twelve plays including Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests Trilogy in repertoire for a month.
Disaster struck again in the summer of 1984 when the Theatre was closed to build foundations under a small section at the side of the building. Re-opened in March 1985, the Theatre has gone from strength to strength. In 1989, Dave Willetts, our Patron who appeared in two productions at the Priory before turning professional, held a Gala Evening at Warwick Arts Centre for the benefit of the Theatre. The proceeds of this evening greatly contributed to a new Foyer and Bar.
Foyer Extension
With the assistance of a grant from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of England, work was completed in 1999 on further development of the foyer area and extension of the rear of the Theatre to accommodate a new Property Store.
Access for wheelchairs via a ramp and lift was added, and a toilet for the disabled accessible from the auditorium.
Dressing Room & Auditorium Refurbishment
Unseen by the public but greatly appreciated by those appearing on-stage, the theatre dressing rooms were given a complete overhaul in 2006, followed by a complete overhaul of our auditorium using seats donated by the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon.
80th Year
In 2012 we celebrated our 80th Season starting with one of the country's first amateur production of Tim Firth's Calendar Girls. We were lucky to welcome original Calendar Girl Angela Baker to one of our performances. We also held a gala night for the members of the theatre to celebrate this incredible milestone!
Coronavirus, Foyer & Technical Refurbishment
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Priory was forced to close our doors to the public for almost 18 months - the longest time in our history since the war! With almost all our usual revenue streams cut off instantly, we were grateful to receive several grants which allowed us to continue to maintain our buildings and cover our costs.
We released several recordings of past shows we had produced online for our audiences to view, took part in the #LightItUpRed campaign to raise awareness of the challenges the entertainment industry was facing and also completely renovated our foyer during the time we were closed.
The largest and most significant refurbishment of the building in recent memory, we completely stripped the foyer and redesigned it in its entirety. From removing walls to create a completely new box office and coffee shop, to exposing more of the chapel’s original brick work, this was no mean feat.
We also significantly refreshed and updated the technical infrastructure in the building including adding high-speed public wifi, a range of new show control networks and redesigned our control room’s layout to better suit our needs in the new age of technology.
Coupled with the challenges of a global pandemic, significantly reduced income and laws making it difficult for members to help with some of the build, we were delighted when it was completed.
