Dancehouse Theatre

Dancehouse Theatre is a dance-focused performing-arts venue located at 10 Oxford Road in Manchester, England. It occupies a building whose history reflects several major stages in the development of twentieth-century entertainment architecture: it began as a late-1920s complex of meeting halls, became the Regal Twins cinemas, was later adapted into one of Britain's earliest five-screen cinema complexes, and was eventually transformed into a combined theatre and dance-education centre. The building was designed by Pendleton and Dickson for property developer Emmanuel Nove and constructed in 1929–30. Before the original halls were completed, they were converted into two cinemas known as the Regal Twins. Their Art Deco interiors were distinctive, and the venue has been described as the world's first multiplex. In 1972, Star Group converted the site into a five-screen complex, identified as the first five-cinema complex in Britain. The cinema operation subsequently declined, and the building closed during the 1980s, leaving substantial parts of the property derelict. In 1990, Northern Ballet School obtained a lease on the property. The school, founded in 1977 by principal Patricia McDonald, worked with its sister company, The Dancehouse Theatre, to restore the building and adapt it for dance training and live performance. One of the derelict 750-seat cinemas was converted into a 430-seat theatre. The restored venue was officially opened in 1994 by Princess Margaret. The wider Dancehouse complex covers approximately 35,000 square feet and combines public performance facilities with specialist educational space. In addition to the theatre, it contains three medium-sized and two large dance studios, a green room, a café bar, a theatre bar and a coffee shop. Other former cinema areas were converted into studios and associated facilities used by Northern Ballet School and Performers College Manchester. These institutions are part of BIMM University. Dancehouse Theatre's identity is therefore based less on a conventional touring-theatre brand and more on the integration of performance, dance education, rehearsal infrastructure and heritage restoration. Its central Manchester location and adaptable studios support dance training and live events, while the restored Art Deco setting gives the venue a distinctive architectural character. The site has also been used for filmed cultural content: Manchester band Elbow filmed the video for “Newborn” at the theatre. Available reference material does not establish a separate corporate ownership structure, current leadership roster, financial results or a detailed programme archive.

The building now known as Dancehouse Theatre stands on Oxford Road in central Manchester. It was designed by Pendleton and Dickson for Emmanuel Nove, a property developer who had arrived in Manchester from Ukraine in the late nineteenth century. Construction took place in 1929–30, when the building was initially intended to contain two large meeting halls above a parade of shops. Before the halls were completed, the plans were changed and the spaces became two cinemas named the Regal Twins. Their fashionable 1930 Art Deco interiors made the venue architecturally notable. The two-screen arrangement has been associated with the description of the site as the world's first multiplex. The building later underwent another significant cinema conversion. In 1972, Star Group created a five-screen complex, known as Studios 1 to 5, which was described as Britain's first five-cinema complex. Star Group also operated additional screens elsewhere in Manchester, including Studios 6–9 on Deansgate. The cinema complex eventually closed during the 1980s, and the property became derelict. A major change in the building's history began in 1990, when Northern Ballet School secured a lease. Northern Ballet School had been founded in 1977 by its principal, Patricia McDonald. Working alongside its sister company, The Dancehouse Theatre, the school pursued a restoration and conversion project intended to recover the building's Art Deco character while giving it a new role as a dance and performance centre. The largest surviving cinema auditorium, originally capable of seating 750 people, was adapted into a 430-seat theatre. The restored Dancehouse Theatre officially opened in 1994, with Princess Margaret performing the opening ceremony. The conversion cost approximately £500,000; the available reference describes the funding as having been supported largely by donations from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, the Arts Council of England and other subscribers to the company's development programme. No current financial information is established by the supplied material. The remaining cinema spaces and other parts of the building were converted into dance studios and supporting facilities. The resulting complex extends to about 35,000 square feet and includes the theatre, three medium-sized studios, two large studios, a green room, café bar, theatre bar and coffee shop. The educational facilities became home to Northern Ballet School and later to Performers College Manchester, institutions identified as part of BIMM University. Dancehouse consequently operates as both a performance venue and a dance-training environment. Its heritage value derives from the layered reuse of a former cinema building, while its present function is centred on dance education, rehearsal and live performance. The building has also appeared in popular culture: the Manchester band Elbow filmed the music video for “Newborn” there. The supplied sources do not provide a complete account of the theatre's programme history, current management, legal ownership or recent commercial activity.

• 1994

  Dancehouse Theatre officially opens

  [1]Dancehouseen.wikipedia.org

  A former 750-seat cinema was converted into a 430-seat theatre, officially opened by Princess Margaret.

• 1990

  Northern Ballet School obtains a lease

  [1]Dancehouseen.wikipedia.org

  Northern Ballet School secured a lease on the derelict property and began its restoration and conversion project with The Dancehouse Theatre.

• 1977

  Northern Ballet School is founded

  [1]Dancehouseen.wikipedia.org

  Northern Ballet School was founded by Patricia McDonald, later becoming central to the building's redevelopment as a dance centre.

• 1972

  Conversion into a five-screen cinema complex

  [1]Dancehouseen.wikipedia.org

  Star Group converted the site into five cinema screens, described as Britain's first five-cinema complex.

• 1930

  Meeting halls become the Regal Twins cinemas

  [1]Dancehouseen.wikipedia.org

  Before completion, the planned meeting halls were converted into two Art Deco cinemas known as the Regal Twins.

• 1929

  Construction of the original building begins

  [1]Dancehouseen.wikipedia.org

  The building on Oxford Road was constructed during 1929–30 to designs by Pendleton and Dickson for developer Emmanuel Nove.

A Manchester dance and performing-arts venue that combines live theatre, specialist dance studios, professional training and the restoration of a historic Art Deco cinema complex.

• Performing-arts venue · 1994

  Dancehouse Theatre

  The principal public auditorium is a 430-seat theatre created from a former cinema within the restored Oxford Road building. It provides a dedicated setting for dance and other performing-arts activity while retaining the architectural character of the site's Art Deco heritage.

• Dance training and rehearsal facilities · 1994

  Dance studios

  The complex includes three medium-sized and two large dance studios, together with supporting areas. These facilities serve dance education, professional training, rehearsal and related performing-arts activity associated with the centre's educational partners.

• Venue services · 1994

  Hospitality and event facilities

  Supporting facilities include a green room, café bar, theatre bar and coffee shop. These spaces complement the theatre and studio functions and contribute to the complex's role as a combined performance, education and visitor venue.

1. 1Dancehouseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Dancehouse Theatre official websitethedancehouse.co.uk