Building Name

Hulme Playhouse Theatre

Date
1902
Street
Warwick Street
District/Town
Hulme
County/Country
GMCA, England
Client
W H Broadhead
Work
New build
Listed
Grade II

The Hulme Playhouse was built as the Hippodrome in 1902, next door to the current Hulme Hippodrome. Both Theatres were built to the designs of  JJ Alley and were connected by an arcade.

The Theatre was smaller than its neighbour but had a similar auditorium with two straight Balconies, but this Theatre has slips running to the proscenium from the upper Balcony. The Theatre originally had a capacity of 1,500. In 1905 the Theatre was renamed the Grand Junction Theatre whilst the Theatre next door, originally called the Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, was renamed the Hulme Hippodrome. Both Theatres effectively swapping names. In 1929 the Theatre was converted for cinema use and renamed the Junction Picture Theatre.  In 1951 the Theatre was renamed again, this time to the Playhouse. Five years later it was renamed again to the BBC Playhouse and used from 1956 to 1987 by the BBC as a Radio and TV studio. In 1991 the Theatre was renamed yet again, this time to the Nia Centre, and converted internally for mid-size touring productions but the stage depth was made smaller and the site lines were compromised. The venture failed and the Theatre closed in 2000. The Hulme Playhouse is Grade II Listed and its current capacity is 700 but sadly it stands empty today.  Web   www.arthurlloyd.co.uk