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 and to encourage and carry out research into his life and work. We also visit theatres by other architects so that we can appreciate great architecture wherever it may be.

We publish a Newsletter which has news and details of forthcoming visits and a Journal with more in-depth articles. Membership is open to everyone interested in theatre architecture at £20 for single membership commencing 1st January 2014 and £25 for joint membership at the same address.

The Frank Matcham Society annual Journal first edition is being 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 AT RISK - LATEST

Local Our Brighton Hippodrome campaign online petition hosted by 38Degrees now tops 7500 signatures - go direct here and sign! With the street petition you could reach 10,000 signatures soon.

The deadline to lodge formal objections has passed but your views may still be accepted for such a nationally significant theatre. See the Our Brighton Hippodrome website here to find out how and join the big names supporting the campaign. There is not much time before the city council decides.

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 planning objection letter in PDF format 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.