| More on the ADC | ADC theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS, 01223 300085 The ADC theatre has nurtured graduates over the years who've gone on to be huge stage and screen stars; Christian Coulson, Stephen Fry, Sir Derek Jacobi, Miriam Margolyes, Sir Ian McKellen, Tilda Swinton, Emma Thompson, Sam Mendes and so on, and so on! The ADC theatre is the oldest student theatre in the country, dating back to 1855. If you would like to become a friend of the theatre, log on to their website www.adctheatre.com. |
 | | Follow me to the bar! |
Marketing Manager, Daisy Black, gave us a guided tour of the building providing nuggets of its history (there's more than one ghost!) whilst walking us from top to bottom in an access all areas trip that even had us walking across the roof space above the auditorium! The ADC Theatre is Cambridge's University Playhouse, and is owned by the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club (CUADC) which was formed in 1855. The members of CUADC rallied round to raise funds to buy the freehold on the Hoop Inn in Park Street and this was then later developed into the ADC theatre. In 1933 a fire gutted the building and it had to be rebuilt. It is currently nearing completion of a new rebuild to update the facilities, increase access to all areas and modernize the façade, the box office and bar area. The lift installed in 2005 to provide disabled access to the bar and auditorium meant that the previous ladder access to the lighting and sound boxes were no longer able to be used. Thus, they too were rebuilt to allow access to them from the lift. With its warm blue and plum hues throughout the building, stepping through the doors is mildly reminiscent of a late Victorian parlour but the addition of the cunning contemporary lighting gives it an all over feeling of a thoroughly modern members only club. And with one of the best late night bars around, this alone is enough to tempt the lone punter in from the streets. Add to that a vibrant and juicy programme and you've got a great night out. Don't believe us? Take a look around yourself! |
