Andrew Simpson: Treading the boards ..... the Victoria Theare ..... Salford

Sunday, 10 October 2021

Treading the boards ..... the Victoria Theare ..... Salford

Now, if you live in Salford, the Salford Theatre will be familiar, but not to me.

So having recieved Andy's picture, I went looking for its story.

And courtesy of the Theatre Trust here it is, which I have to confess I have just lifted, but not all of it. For where would the fun be if you could read it all here.

Instead just follow the link to the rest. "Built in 1899 and designed by Bertie Crewe, the Victoria Theatre in Salford is Grade II listed.

This architecturally important theatre has a fine terracotta façade with much stained glass and a beautiful and intimate auditorium featuring richly scrolled plasterwork.

There are substantial remains of wooden sub-stage machinery including a complete grave trap. A visit to the theatre in autumn 2019 uncovered what is believed to be the only surviving example in the UK of a ‘scruto’ stage. As explained by historical theatre experts Theatresearch:

The stage was originally designed along the English Wood Stage principles whereby the sliders for the cuts and bridges slid off under the wings.

However, because the wings were too narrow the sliders curved downwards in the manner of a roll-top desk. This was a technique used in the construction of a Corsican Trap, but it is now the only complete surviving example in the British Isles.”