Frank Matcham Society

THE FRANK MATCHAM SOCIETY

The Society was set up following the centenary of the Wakefield Theatre Royal in 1994. Our members come from all over the U.K. and abroad. We aim to:

*visit and develop links with all the surviving Matcham theatres
*encourage and carry out research into his life and work
*visit theatres by other architects in the UK
*appreciate great theatre architecture on our foreign visits
*publish a regular Newsletter with news and details of visits
*publish an annual Journal with more in-depth articles.

Membership is open to everyone interested in theatre architecture at £20 for single membership and £25 for joint membership at the same address. Click on the link below and post your membership application.

The Frank Matcham Society annual Journal first edition has been posted to members. Over sixty full colour pages of articles about theatres - a new membership benefit. Contributions from John Earl, Mike Sell and Giles Woodforde with architects Clare Ferraby and Nick Thompson, plus original Frank Matcham artwork. Click on the thumbnail image to view the front cover.

Click here for the membership form in PDF format to download and print.
If the form does not open properly download the PDF Reader here.

Brighton Hippodrome 2006

BRIGHTON HIPPODROME - LIVE THEATRE LOST?

The Theatres Trust requests the Secretary of State call-in Brighton Hippodrome planning application following an 8-4 vote by the city council planning committee for conversion to multiplex, restaurants and retail of this unique Frank Matcham national theatre asset. Tap or click here to read the Theatres Trust news piece.

A move sympathetic to the local campaign by the committee chairman to postpone a decision was also defeated. You can view the Brighton & Hove statement here.

It is essential that all those concerned for the future of this significant Frank Matcham live performance venue pledge your support now via the new online petition here. Keep it Alive.

To support call-in either write urgently to The South Team, DCLG, National Planning Casework Unit, 5 St Philip’s Place, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2PW or email: npcu@communities.gsi.gov.uk

This is the most important of Frank Matcham's works no longer in beneficial use and listed Grade II*, putting it in the top six percent of all listed buildings in the UK. No effort should be spared in protecting and finding a fully sympathetic new use for such a great survivor.

The proposal of an 8-screen cinema and new retail units is not the answer for a work of architecture of such national importance. The Hippodrome demands a far less invasive treatment. The Society are watching developments with concern.

> See the Frank Matcham Society letter to the Secretary of State here.
> The Stage says "Hippodrome campaigners to fight on..." here.
> See the latest from the local Brighton Argus here.
> Join the big names supporting the local campaign for live performance.
> See The Times newspaper opinion piece here.
> Read the Chairman of the Theatres Trust response to The Times here.
> See the Theatres Trust planning objection letter here.
> Note the Theatres Trust ten substantial objections list here.
> See the Our Brighton Hippodrome local campaign objections here.
> Read the Frank Matcham Society planning objection letter here.

For more Frank Matcham Society and Theatre news click here...

We are grateful to our Patrons
Ken Dodd OBE and Prunella Scales CBE & Timothy West CBE
for their support of the Frank Matcham Society.