The Theatre of Small Convenience
| The Theatre of Small Convenience | |
|---|---|
 The Theatre of Small Convenience |
|
| Address | Edith Walk |
| City | Malvern, Worcestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52°06′43″N 2°19′47″W / 52.11194°N 2.32972°WCoordinates: 52°06′43″N 2°19′47″W / 52.11194°N 2.32972°W |
| Designation | World's smallest commercial theatre |
| Operated by | Dennis Neale |
| Capacity | 12 |
| Type | specialist, puppetry |
| Opened | November 1999 |
| www.wctheatre.co.uk | |
The Theatre of Small Convenience is a theatre in Malvern, Worcestershire, England. In 2002 it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's smallest commercial theatre, seating up to 12 people.[1] It is less than half the size of the previous record holder, the Piccolo Theatre in Hamburg, Germany.[2][3]
The theatre is located in Edith Walk, Great Malvern. Local puppeteer Dennis Neale started work on the theatre in 1997,[2] opening for the first show in November 1999.[4] The theatre's name comes from the building's original purpose – it was converted from a derelict Victorian gentlemen's public convenience. It is trapezoidal in shape, 16 feet (4.9 m) long and from 6 feet (1.8 m) to 10 feet (3.0 m) wide.[2]
The theatre regularly hosts puppetry, professional and amateur actors, drama, poetry, storytelling and opera, and has become a regular venue of the Malvern Fringe Festival. In 2005 the theatre was chosen as one of the venues for an international puppetry festival.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Productions
- Quackery Codswollop (2002)[6]
- Quing (2004)[7]
- The Tale of the Snowcake Man (2004)[8]
- Tempuss Tantrum (2006)[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Young, Mark C., ed. (28 September 2001). Guinness Book of World Records 2002. Guinness Publishing. p. 196. ISBN 0851121241.
- ^ a b c Smith, Richard (15 March 1997). "Loo becomes a theatre of convenience". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/loo-becomes-a-theatre-of-convenience-1272884.html. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ Young, Mark C., ed. (November 1996). Guinness Book of World Records 1997. Guinness Publishing. p. 146. ISBN 096523830X.
- ^ Neale, Dennis (22 July 2009). "The Theatre of Small Convenience". The Theatre of Small Convenience. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5mTx3Wblp. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ "Theatre's key role in international festival". Droitwich Spa Advertiser (Newsquest Media Group). 13 May 2005. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5mTxlQHfi. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ "Quackery Codswallop Review: Theatre of Small Convenience, Malvern". Malvern Gazette (Newsquest Media Group). 6 September 2002. http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/archive/2002/09/06/Worcestershire+Archive/7685678.Quackery_Codswallop__Review__Theatre_of_Small_Convenience__Malvern/. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ "No small convenience". Malvern Gazette (Newsquest Media Group). 9 September 2004. http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/archive/2004/09/09/Herefordshire+Archive/5656171.No_small_convenience/. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ "Theatre enjoys big hit with a sweet fairytale". Malvern Gazette (Newsquest Media Group). 17 December 2004. http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/archive/2004/12/17/Midlands+Archive/6532295.Theatre_enjoys_big_hit_with_a_sweet_fairytale/. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ "A convenient way to spend some time". Malvern Gazette (Newsquest Media Group). 30 August 2006. http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/archive/2006/08/31/Theatre+%28hereford_whatson_theatre%29/899737.A_convenient_way_to_spend_some_time/. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
