A brief history of ERT
Our unique and beautiful building has stood at the end of Lord Robert’s Road in Beverley for over 100 years. In that time it’s been many different things for many different reasons – East Riding theatre hasn’t always been a theatre…
OUR BUILDING…
Our building used to be a Baptist chapel in the early 1900s, a space where Beverlonians came to get married, christened, pray or attend Sunday school.
THE FOUNDATION STONE…
for the building was laid in 1909. Notice how the striking Art Nouveau-Gothic style of the building, with its red brick and white terracotta exterior, reflects the Flemish-inspired design of County Hall just opposite. The building was designed by architects Garside & Pennington of Pontefract and Castleford, and officially opened in 1910 to a congregation of 400.
The building fell out of use as a religious setting in 1964 when it was handed over to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. It later became home to the East Riding Archives from 1996 to 2007.
DID YOU KNOW…
Universal Productions filmed Dad’s Army inside our building in 2014. The entrance foyer became Captain Mainwaring’s office and the main auditorium was used as the village hall. The timely financial injection helped us build our stage and café bar!
FOR A TIME…
Our building space was used for vaccinations. People from across the area came here to be inoculated against diseases like measles and diphtheria. But eventually the building, surplus to local government requirements, would become a storage space left to slowly fall into disrepair.
IN 2013…
after a voluntary board raised funds to undertake initial surveys of the property, together with 80 volunteers and some local businesses who kindly donated their goods and services, the building was renovated as an independent theatre.
East Riding Theatre finally opened in 2014 with a production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. And since then has proudly been the area’s only producing theatre.
News
This year sees our 10th anniversary since we opened our doors in 2014. We have lots of exciting plans to celebrate this occasion and we look forward to revealing more over the weeks and months ahead… So, watch this space!
Running throughout December 2023, Our seasonal production – ‘Toad on the Wolds’ – was enjoyed by many families across the region. The Writer (Gordon Meredith), Director (Richard Avery) and Producer (Sue Kirkman), along with all our amazing cast and production crew, have all received outstanding praise for their efforts. Here are just a few reviews […]
Photograph: Diane Claughton, ERT Corporate Sponsorship with Lairgate Financial Director Phillip Betts “ERT Brings a high standard of Theatre, Comedy and Music to the heart of the Beverley Community, Lairgate Financial are proud to continue its sponsorship with this year’s Christmas production – Toad on the Wolds”. Phillip Betts
East Riding Theatre (ERT) wants to say a huge thank you to the Beverley Referral Business Network (BRBN) for their generous donation of £500.
