Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
For other theatres with a similar name, see Victoria Theatre (disambiguation)
 The original redbrick and terracotta (left) against the 1999 extension (right) | |
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| Address | Bagnall Street Stoke-on-Trent England |
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| Coordinates | 53°01′23″N 2°10′31″W / 53.0231°N 2.1752°WCoordinates: 53°01′23″N 2°10′31″W / 53.0231°N 2.1752°W |
| Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group |
| Capacity | 1,467[1] |
| Opened | 1888 |
| Years active | 1888-present |
Victoria Hall is a concert hall in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It opened in 1888, having been constructed to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee the previous year. Along with the Regent Theatre, also in Hanley, it is managed by the Ambassador Theatre Group.
History[]
Victoria Hall was constructed as an annex to Hanley Town Hall in 1888, as part of the town's celebrations for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.[2] It was built in red brick and terracotta, and designed by local borough surveyor Joseph Lobley.[3]
Conductors who have appeared at the hall include Edward Elgar who conducted the first performance of his composition King Olaf (Op 30). In 1996 Donald Hunt conducted the BBC Philharmonic and the Ceramic City Choir in a revival to mark the centenary of the premiere.[4][5]
Recordings made in the hall include the live album by Slash Made in Stoke 24/7/11.
Facilities[]
Originally the building had a capacity of 2800 people, but this has since been reduced considerably to 1467 as seating replaced wooden forms and benches.[1][2]
The organ has 4 manuals. The original instrument was presented by George Meakin, a local businessman, who acquired it in Yorkshire. It was rebuilt and enlarged in the 1920s. The organ has since been modified more than once, but the most recent work has been aimed at restoring its 1920s tone.[6][7]
As an adjunct to the town hall, the building originally had minimal front-of-house facilities. To remedy this, an extension was constructed in 1999 as part of the development of a "Cultural Quarter" in Hanley. This building interlinks with the hall, providing a new entrance space with better facilities for the audiences and performers along with access for the disabled to all parts of the house. The extension also houses administration for the Ambassador Theatre Group, which operates the venue and the nearby Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. Until 2011, the local Tourist Information Centre was housed here also.
References[]
- ^ a b "The Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall". The Staffordshire Stoke on Trent Conference Bureau. n.d. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Victoria Hall". Ambassador Theatre Group. n.d. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ Neale, William A. (2010). Old Theatres in the Potteries (Second ed.). Stoke-on-Trent. pp. 84–89. ISBN 9781446638460.
- ^ Dunnett, R (October 2011). "Classical Music: King Olaf". Independent. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "King Olaf, op 30".
- ^ "NPOR [A00305]", National Pipe Organ Register, British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 24 October 2021
- ^ "Organ Proms".
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- Buildings and structures in Stoke-on-Trent
- Concert halls in England
- Grade II listed buildings in Staffordshire
- Tourist attractions in Stoke-on-Trent
- Performance art venues
- 1888 establishments in England
- Event venues established in 1888
- Staffordshire building and structure stubs