Frank Matcham was responsible for designing over 100 theatres. No two buildings were ever the same, but he developed a very personal style, with astonishing theatrical flair.
Although many were demolished during the 1950s and 1960s, the survivors are now much admired and many have been refurbished with the most modern technical and audience facilities, while retaining beautiful period details such as painted ceilings and decorative plaster work.
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 and abroad
- 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
Visit our JOIN us page and find out more.
Winter Newsletter 2023
Our Winter 2023 Newsletter has been sent to our members with a cover image of Prague State Opera House from our recent visit, plus the fully illustrated visit write-up. This issue also includes a biography of our recently passed Vice President Rupert Rhymes OBE, much missed. It also includes a report of the Tyne Theatre & Opera House conference week and the Music Hall Society weekend conference.
Our Autumn 2023 Newsletter has been sent to our members with cover images of our recent return to the Isle of Man. This issue also includes an illustrated piece about a visit to D’Oyly Carte Island, an interview with David Wood, photos of the Richmond Theatre open day and that at the Brighton Hippodrome, plus much more.
Our Summer 2023 Newsletter has already been dispatched to members with a cover image of the Portsmouth New Theatre Royal from our AGM and visits in June. Inside is a tribute to our lost friend Elain Harwood, ENO and the Coliseum by Rupert Rhymes, and much more…with thanks to our Newsletter Editor, Fran Birch.
Matcham Society Journal 2023The Frank Matcham Society’s Matcham Journal 2023 includes a fully illustrated feature on Morecambe Winter Gardens by Professor Vanessa Toulmin Chair of the Morcambe Wintergardens Preservation Trust, a feature by Michael Sell on the Theatres of Europe, also an interview by Giles Woodforde with theatre seating company Kirwin & Simpson, plus architect Nick Thompson’s thoughts on seating design.
Copies are free to members of the Frank Matcham Society and available for purchase by non-members. Details on how to order are available by sending a message to the Society via the Contact page.
A few copies of our 2024 Frank Matcham Society’s fully illustrated calendar are still available to members. It features images of the Gaiety theatre in Douglas IoM by Michael Thompson (eyeofmanphotography.com).
Previously members of the Frank Matcham Society received the soft cover first edition of the The Matcham Directory by VP Mike Sell, edited by Fran Birch and featuring a Foreword by our
President Emeritus John Earl, with many rare images from VP David Wilmore and theatresearch. This replaced the 2020 annual Journal and was a member benefit to mark the centenary year of his death and a fortaste of the planned hard cover second edition already in preparation.
Copies are free to members of the Frank Matcham Society and available for purchase by non-members. Details on how to order are available by sending a message to the Society via the Contact page. Work is now underway for a 2nd Edition hardback version, publication to be announced in due course.
Home page photos: Theatre Royal Wakefield proscenium detail – Frank Matcham Society : Belfast Grand Opera House auditorium – Frank Matcham Society : Gaiety Douglas IoM upper auditorium – Frank Matcham Society : Gaiety Douglas IoM stage machinery – Frank Matcham Society : Royal Hall Harrogate auditorium – Royal Hall Preservation Trust : Full House at the O2 Empire Shepherds Bush – photo Daniel Gray
