Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre, commonly known as the Stockton Globe, is a Grade II listed Art Deco entertainment venue on the north-western end of Stockton-on-Tees High Street in England. Although the site began as a purpose-built cinema in 1913, the building became closely associated with live performance, popular music, variety entertainment, pantomime, ballet, comedy, and cinema. Its changing names and uses reflect the development of British entertainment venues during the twentieth century: it began as the Globe Theatre, became an ABC cinema in 1938, spent part of its later life as a bingo venue, and was eventually restored and reopened as a live events venue. The original Globe was built in 1913 as the area's first purpose-built cinema. That building was demolished in 1925 and replaced in 1926. The second building was notable for showing the area's first talking pictures. A further rebuilding took place in 1935, producing the Art Deco theatre that forms the basis of the present landmark. The 1935 venue was designed principally as a variety theatre while retaining cinema facilities, and it could accommodate approximately 2,372 people. Its programming combined touring stage productions with film screenings, giving the venue a broad appeal and allowing it to operate across several entertainment formats. In 1938 the theatre became an ABC cinema, but the change did not eliminate live entertainment. Stage activity continued through annual pantomimes, ballet productions, West End shows, and appearances by touring companies. From the 1950s through the 1970s, the ABC Theatre was an important North East venue for popular music. Acts associated with the venue included Buddy Holly, the Platters, Guy Mitchell, the Animals, Cilla Black, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Cliff Richard, the Shadows, Lonnie Donegan, Mud, Showaddywaddy, and the Bay City Rollers. The Beatles performed there twice, while the Rolling Stones appeared on multiple occasions, including shows involving Ike & Tina Turner and the Yardbirds. The venue also played a role in the careers and creative work of performers. Lonnie Donegan and the Shadows were among artists connected with pantomime appearances at the theatre, and Cliff Richard and the Shadows developed material associated with Stockton while appearing there. The building's film history included the regional first showing of the 3D film House of Wax in 1953. Its final film screening was The Sting on 15 June 1974. Status Quo gave the last rock performance in December 1974, and the final event before the original entertainment operation ended was a London Philharmonic Orchestra concert on 5 February 1975. After closing as a theatre and cinema, the building reopened for a period as a bingo venue before ultimately closing in 1997. Many original ornamental features survived, preserving its architectural significance. The Theatres Trust identified the building as an important example of its type and placed it on its at-risk register. Several redevelopment proposals followed, including a 2002 nightclub plan, but none initially came to fruition. In 2010, a restoration project was announced with an original budget of approximately £4 million. Structural difficulties and other complications caused substantial delays and increased the projected cost to approximately £27.9 million. The restored venue finally reopened in 2021 as a setting for music, comedy, and other events. McFly became the first act to perform on the stage since the 1975 closure. The Stockton Globe therefore operates both as a modern events venue and as a surviving record of the town's cinema and live-entertainment history.

The history of the Stockton Globe begins in 1913, when the first Globe Theatre was constructed at the north-western end of Stockton-on-Tees High Street. It was the area's first purpose-built cinema, reflecting the rapid expansion of film exhibition in Britain during the early twentieth century. The original building was demolished in 1925 and rebuilt the following year. The 1926 venue showed the area's first talking pictures, linking the site to a major transition in cinema technology and audience experience. The building was rebuilt again in 1935. The new structure was designed as a leading variety theatre, but it also retained cinema facilities and seating for roughly 2,372 people. This dual purpose allowed it to host both touring stage entertainment and film programmes. Its position in the town centre and its large auditorium made it suitable for national touring companies, musical acts, pantomimes, ballet, West End productions, and cinema screenings. In 1938, the venue became an ABC cinema. Despite the change in operating identity, live performances remained an important part of its programme. During the middle decades of the twentieth century, the building became particularly prominent as a North East music venue. Its stage hosted performers from rock and roll, pop, rhythm and blues, and other popular genres. Buddy Holly, the Platters, Guy Mitchell, the Animals, Cilla Black, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Cliff Richard, the Shadows, Lonnie Donegan, Mud, Showaddywaddy, and the Bay City Rollers were among the artists associated with the venue. The Beatles played there twice, including an appearance on 22 November 1963, and the Rolling Stones appeared multiple times. The venue also hosted shows involving Ike & Tina Turner and the Yardbirds. The Globe's role was not limited to concerts. Cliff Richard and the Shadows appeared in pantomime there, and material associated with their work was developed during their time in Stockton. The theatre also hosted an early regional 3D film presentation when House of Wax was shown in 1953. Its last film was The Sting, screened on 15 June 1974. Status Quo provided the final rock concert in December 1974, and the final event of the original era was a London Philharmonic Orchestra concert on 5 February 1975. The building later reopened as a bingo venue for several years, but it eventually closed permanently in 1997. Its original decorative features survived sufficiently for the building to retain substantial architectural and heritage value. The Theatres Trust described it as an excellent example of its kind and included it among buildings on its at-risk register. A number of possible redevelopment schemes were proposed. One 2002 proposal would have converted the building into a nightclub, but it was not realised. A more substantial restoration plan was announced in 2010. The intention was to restore the historic building and return it to use for music, comedy, and other events. The project encountered structural problems and repeated delays. Its initial budget of approximately £4 million grew to approximately £27.9 million. Despite these difficulties, the restoration was completed sufficiently for the Globe to reopen in 2021. McFly was the first act to perform on its stage since the 1975 closure. The reopened Stockton Globe combines the preservation of a significant Art Deco theatre with the operation of a modern live-entertainment venue.

• 2021

  Venue reopens after restoration

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The restored Globe reopens, with McFly as the first act to perform there since 1975.

• 2010

  Restoration programme announced

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  A plan is announced to restore the building and reopen it for music, comedy, and other events.

• 1997

  Bingo-era operation ends

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The building closes after its later use as a bingo venue.

• 1975

  Original entertainment operation closes

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The London Philharmonic Orchestra performs the final show on 5 February before the venue closes and later operates as a bingo hall.

• 1974

  Cinema and rock programming ends

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The final film, The Sting, is screened on 15 June, and Status Quo gives the venue's final rock performance in December.

• 1953

  Regional 3D cinema milestone

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  House of Wax is shown as the first 3D film in the region.

• 1938

  Venue becomes an ABC cinema

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The Globe adopts the ABC cinema identity while continuing to host live performances.

• 1935

  Art Deco theatre constructed

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The present Art Deco structure is built as a variety theatre with cinema facilities and seating for approximately 2,372 people.

• 1926

  Second Globe building opens

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  A rebuilt venue opens and presents the area's first talking pictures.

• 1925

  Original building demolished

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The first Globe building is demolished to make way for a replacement.

• 1913

  Original Globe Theatre opens

  [1]Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org

  The first Globe Theatre is built as the area's first purpose-built cinema.

A restored heritage entertainment venue combining an Art Deco architectural landmark with contemporary music, comedy, theatre, and event programming.

• Entertainment programming

  Live music

  Live music has been central to the Globe's identity since the mid-twentieth century. During its ABC Theatre years, the venue hosted touring performers from rock and roll, pop, rhythm and blues, and related genres. The restored venue continues to operate as a setting for concerts and touring music acts.

• Performing arts · 1935

  Theatre and variety

  The 1935 building was designed as a major variety theatre, and the site has historically presented stage shows, touring companies, ballet, West End productions, and pantomime. Theatre and variety programming forms part of the venue's heritage and contemporary event role.

• Entertainment programming · 2021

  Comedy and special events

  The restoration programme positioned the Globe for music, comedy, and other live events. These formats extend the venue beyond its historic cinema and concert functions and support its role as a flexible town-centre entertainment space.

• Film exhibition · 1913

  Cinema

  Cinema was the site's original and historically important use. The first Globe opened as a purpose-built cinema in 1913, the 1926 rebuilding introduced talking pictures locally, and the venue later presented the region's first 3D film. Regular cinema operations ended with the final screening in 1974.

• 2021

  Reopening as a contemporary events venueOther

  Background

  The building had been closed for live entertainment since 1975, apart from its later bingo use, and underwent a delayed restoration.

  Action taken

  The Globe reopened for music, comedy, and other events.

  Aftermath

  McFly became the first act to perform on the stage since the original closure, re-establishing the building as a live entertainment venue.

  Source

• 2010

  Decision to restore the historic venueStrategy

  Background

  The Grade II listed building had been closed since 1997 and was regarded as architecturally important but at risk. Earlier redevelopment ideas, including a nightclub proposal, had not been implemented.

  Action taken

  A restoration project was announced with the objective of returning the building to use for music, comedy, and other events.

  Aftermath

  Structural problems caused delays and the projected cost rose substantially, but the restored venue eventually reopened in 2021.

  Projected restoration cost. £4 million → £27.9 million (2010-2021 restoration period)

  Source

• 1938

  Adoption of the ABC cinema identityStrategy

  Background

  The venue shifted into the ABC cinema network while retaining a live-performance programme.

  Action taken

  The Globe began operating as an ABC cinema and continued presenting pantomime, ballet, West End shows, and other stage entertainment.

  Aftermath

  The venue maintained a mixed cinema-and-live-entertainment role for much of the mid-century period.

  Source

1. 1Stockton Globeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council: Globe Theatrestockton.gov.uk