Fisher Theatre, Bungay

The Fisher Theatre in Bungay, Suffolk, is one of the oldest surviving purpose-built theatres in East Anglia. It first opened on 28 February 1828 with a performance of 'The Belle's Stratagem'. It was one of thirteen theatres designed and built across East Anglia by David Fisher for the circuit of his company, 'The Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians'. Fisher's company, largely made up of members of his own family, would visit each theatre in turn for two months, staging professional productions before moving on to the next town and returning two years later. The theatre's original layout included pit seating, gallery benches and two tiers of private boxes for the gentry, who entered through the main front doors and were personally welcomed by David Fisher. Touring theatres were badly affected by the arrival of the railways, and in 1844 the Bungay theatre was sold. For most of the 19th century it served as the town's corn hall and a venue for meetings. Later it became Bungay's first cinema and was used for a variety of entertainments and commercial enterprises, including a steam laundry for many years, ending the 20th century as a textile warehouse. The building was rescued and reopened as a 'house of entertainment'. Today the Fisher Theatre is run by the Bungay Arts and Theatre Society (BATS), a charity organization formed in 1995 with the explicit goal of providing arts and culture to Bungay and the surrounding area. The venue operates as a theatre, cinema and community arts centre, presenting a varied programme of live performances, film screenings, talks, workshops and community events. Its programme includes touring theatre, music, dance, cinema screenings (including dementia-friendly cinema), NT Live broadcasts, Royal Ballet and Opera presentations, art history talks, pantomime, book fairs and makers' markets. The theatre also publishes a regular newsletter, 'Spotlight', showcasing past and future events. A spiral staircase leads down to an atmospheric cellar where visitors can see a reconstruction of the original pit seating area complete with 'audience', and many historic items found during a 'Bungay Time Team' dig in 2004.

The Fisher Theatre, Bungay was first opened on 28th February 1828 with a performance of 'The Belle's Stratagem'. The theatre was one of thirteen designed and built across East Anglia by David Fisher, serving the circuit of Fisher's company, 'The Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians'. Fisher's company, which was to a great extent made up of members of his own talented family, would visit each theatre in turn for two months, putting on a series of highly professional productions. They would then move onto the next town in the circuit, returning two years later. If you go down the spiral staircase to the atmospheric cellar you can get a sense of how the late Georgian population of Bungay was stylishly entertained. You will find a reconstruction of the pit seating area complete with 'audience', and many historic items found during a 'Bungay Time Team' dig in 2004. Even cheaper than squeezing onto the pit benches, were bench seats high up in the gallery at the Broad Street end of the building. The most spacious seats were provided for the gentry, in two tiers of private boxes. While local townsfolk queued eagerly down the side of the building, ready to squash into the pit or the gallery, the gentry would enter through the big front doors, personally welcomed by David Fisher. Touring theatres were badly affected by the coming of the railways and in 1844 the Bungay theatre was sold. For most of the 19th Century it was the town's corn Hall and a venue for meetings. Later it became Bungay's first cinema and was used for a variety of entertainments and commercial enterprises, including a steam laundry for many years, and ending the 20th Century as a textile warehouse. The resurrection of this 'house of entertainment' has been a long story in itself. Bungay Arts and Theatre Society (BATS) is a charity organization formed in 1995 with the explicit goal of providing arts and culture to Bungay and the surrounding area. Today the Fisher Theatre operates as a theatre, cinema and community arts centre, presenting a varied programme of live performances, film screenings, talks, workshops and community events.

• 2004

  A 'Bungay Time Team' dig uncovered historic items now displayed in the theatre's cellar.

• 1995

  Bungay Arts and Theatre Society (BATS) was formed as a charity organization.

• 1844

  The Bungay theatre was sold due to the impact of railways on touring theatres.

• 1828

  The Fisher Theatre, Bungay opened on 28th February with a performance of 'The Belle's Stratagem'.

A historic community theatre, cinema and arts centre serving Bungay and the surrounding area, run by a local charity.

• Live theatre performances

• Cinema screenings

• NT Live broadcasts

• Royal Ballet and Opera presentations

• Art history talks

• Workshops

• Pantomime

• Book fairs

• Makers' markets

• Community events

• 2021.03.22

  Reported2021.03.22

  ATG announces acquisition of theatres and programming operations in San Francisco and Detroit[6]ATG宣布收购旧金山和底特律的剧院及节目运营业务playbill.com

  International Entertainment Holdings Limited, the parent company of The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), and The Nederlander Company announced ATG's pending acquisition of San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre and Orpheum Theatre, Detroit's Fisher Theatre, and programming operation of Detroit Opera House and Music Hall. The transaction was scheduled to close on March 29.

Read more

1. 1The Fisher Theatre | Homefishertheatre.org
2. 2The Fisher Theatre | Art History - Reality!fishertheatre.org
3. 3The Fisher Theatre | About Us | Historyfishertheatre.org
4. 4The Fisher Theatre | About Usfishertheatre.org
5. 5Fisher Theatre, Bungaywikidata.org
6. 6ATG宣布收购旧金山和底特律的剧院及节目运营业务playbill.com