The Wyvern Theatre is a 635-seat indoor auditorium in Swindon, England, opened in September 1971. It is owned by Swindon Borough Council and operated by Trafalgar Entertainment.About Us – Wyverntheatre.org.uk
In March 2019, Swindon Borough Council stated the building was likely to reach the end of its life by 2027, when its operations contract ends. Representative Dale Heenan cautioned that structural and maintenance reports showed the theatre required major investment.
In November 2023, the authority suggested the site of a new venue could be the town's bus station, as it was slated for demolition. In September 2024, proposals were released for a new multi-purpose theatre with increased capacity on the bus station site. Proposals have outlined that the existing Wyvern Theatre will be retained, but repurposed as a performing space for community arts groups.
History The theatre was built in 1968–71 by Casson, Conder and Partners as part of Swindon Civic Centre. It is named after the mythical wyvern which was once the emblem of the kings of Wessex.
The building was opened on 7 September 1971 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The first performance was by a Ukrainian dance company.
On 3 September 2006, it closed temporarily after the discovery of traces of asbestos in the venue's offices and roof void during a routine inspection. It remained closed until September 2007 and the opportunity was taken to refurbish the venue, bringing new decor, bars, cafés, disabled entrances and new seating at a total cost of £1.3 million. In March 2020, the venue closed again temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining closed until between August and September 2021.
The Wyvern was one of 11 venues in England managed by HQ Theatres, a company which was acquired by Trafalgar Entertainment in March 2021.
Management companies 1971–1994 – Wyvern Arts Trust Ltd 1994–2001 – Apollo Leisure – General Manager Ted Doan 2001–2002 – SFX Venues – General Manager Ted Doan 2002–2005 – Clear Channel Entertainment – General Manager Ted Doan, Andrew Lister 2005–2007 – Hetherington Seelig Theatres Ltd. – General Manager Nick Shaw, Darren Edwards, Andrew Hill 2007–2021 – HQ Theatres, a joint venture between H.S.T Ltd and Qdos Entertainment – Theatre Director Derek Aldridge, Laura James Since 2021 – Trafalgar Entertainment - Theatre Director Laura James
Pantomimes 1971/72 – Dick Whittington and His Cat 1972/73 – Cinderella starring Howell Evans and Sue Holderness 1973/74 – Dick Whittington starring Ian Lavender and Helen Shapiro 1974/75 – Aladdin 1975/76 – Mother Goose starring Patsy Blower 1976/77 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1977/78 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Tony Brandon 1978/79 – Cinderella 1979/80 – Jack and the Beanstalk 1980/81 – No pantomime due to AIDS 1981/82 – Aladdin starring Bernie Winters and Tim Swinton, Jackie Pallo, Jimmy Thompson and Anne Sidney 1982/83 – Babes in the Wood Starring Jess Conrad (Robin Hood) & Norman Vaughan (Merry Norman) 1983/84 – No pantomime due to AIDS 1984/85 – Cinderella starring Sheila Harrod (Dandini) Roger Dean (Ugly Sister Ruby) Don Crann (Ugly Sister Sal) and April Walker (Prince Charming) 1985/86 – Aladdin starring David Griffin (Wishee Washee) & Don Crann (Widow Twanky) 1986/87 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Johnny Ball 1987/88 – Babes in the Wood starring Peter Duncan (Silly Billy) & Bruce Montague (Sheriff of Nottingham) & Pollyann Tanner (Maid Marion) 1988/89 – Dick Whittington starring Andrew O'Connor (Idle Jack), Michael Groth (Dick Whittington) & Peter Denyer (King Rat) 1989/90 – Mother Goose – Starring Adam Woodyatt (Silly Billy) and Chris Harris with Terry Hall and Lenny the Lion
1990/91 – Aladdin – Starring Floella Benjamin (Aladdin) and Bobby Gee
1991/92 – Cinderella – Starring Matthew Kelly (Buttons) 1992/93 – Jack and the Beanstalk – Starring Trevor Bannister (Dame Trott) Mark Franklin (Jack) Hugo Myatt (Igor the Henchman) & Scarlott O'Neal (Jill) 1993/94 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Starring Brian Hibbard (Herman the Henchman) Dave Lynn (Queen Morgiana) & Danielle Carson (Snow White) & Pollyann Tanner (Fairy Godmother) 1994/95 – Dick Whittington – Starring Jimmy Cricket 1995/96 – Aladdin – Starring Timmy Mallett (Aladdin) 1996/97 – Cinderella – Starring Jess Conrad as Prince Charming and Bernie Clifton as Buttons 1997/98 – Babes in the Wood – (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Paul Leyshon (Robin Hood), Hugo Myatt (the Sheriff of Nottingham) and the Roly Polys as the Merry Men 1998/99 – Jack and the Beanstalk (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Colin Baker (Dame Durden). With Rod, Jane and Freddy 1999/2000 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Jacinta Stapleton (Neighbours''' Amy Greenwood) as Snow White and Paul Ladlow as the Wicked Queen. Also featured Mike McCabe and Sandy Martin (BBC Radio Swindon).
2000/1 – Aladdin (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Aleetza Wood (Home and Away's Peta Janossi) as Aladdin, Geoffrey Hinsliff (Coronation Street's Don Brennan) as Widow Twanky, Bobby Dazzler as Wishee Washee and Juliette Kaplan (Last of the Summer Wine's Pearl) as the Empress of China. Also featured Tweedy & Alexis as Ping and Pong. 2001/2 – Cinderella starring Emma Willis (Cinderella), Bernie Clifton (Buttons), Pollyann Tanner (Dandini), Paul Mead (Baron Hardup) 2002/3 – Dick Whittington starring Geoffrey Hayes (Simple Simon), Pollyann Tanner (Dick), Hugo Myatt (King Rat), Colin Baker (Sarah the Cook). 2003/4 – Goldilocks and the Three Bears starring Vicky Binns (Goldilocks), Howard Taylor (Ringmaster), Ross Davidson (Dame Dolly), Amanda Sandow, Alfie the Alligator and Willy Wyvern 2004/5 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Juliette Kaplan (Fairy), Paul Bradley (Fleshcreep), Jo Martell (Jill), Daniel Boys (Jack) 2005/6 – Peter Pan starring Steven Pinder (Captain Hook), Daniel Boys (Peter Pan), Jonah Cook (John Darling), Aaron Jenkins (Michael Darling). 2006/7 – No pantomime due to Temporary Closure 2007/8 – Cinderella starring Britt Ekland (Fairy Godmother) and Tequila her Chihuahua & Ross Hunter 2008/9 – Aladdin starring Shaun Williamson (Abanazar), Neal Andrews (Wishee Washee) 2009/10 – Sleeping Beauty starring Lorraine Chase (Carabosse), Ceri-Lyn Cissone (Sleeping Beauty), Edd Post (Prince Harry) 2010/11 – Peter Pan starring Paul Nicholas (Captain Hook), Richard Vincent (Peter Pan), Pearce Barron (John Darling), Thomas Snowball (Michael Darling) 2011/12 – Cinderella starring Keith Chegwin (Buttons), Saskia Strallen (Cinderella), Adam King (Prince Charming), Alex Young (Fairy Godmother) 2012/13 – Aladdin starring Keith Chegwin (Wishee Washee) David Ashley (Abanazar) Suzie Chard (Fairy) 2013/14 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Keith Chegwin (Silly Billy), David Ashley (Dame Trot), Jennifer Greenwood (The Fairy) 2014/15 – Dick Whittinton starring Nigel Havers (King Rat), David Ashley (Sarah the Cook), Lucy Kane (Alice Fitzwarren) 2015/16 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Adam Woodyatt (Chambers) & David Ashley (Nurse Nelly) 2016/17 – Cinderella starring Ryan Thomas and David Ashley 2017/18 – Peter Pan starring Adam Woodyatt 2018/19 – Aladdin starring Adam Woodyatt 2019/20 – Sleeping Beauty starring Michelle Collins and Adam Woodyatt 2020/21 – No pantomime due to COVID-19 2021/22 – Jack and the Beanstalk 2022/23 – Beauty and the Beast starring Anne Hegerty 2023/24 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Samantha Dorrance (Snow White), David Ashley (Nurse Nelly) & Paul Burling 2024/25 - Cinderella starring Lisa George and Ben Goffe 2025/26 - Sleeping Beauty starring Jenny Ryan
Behind the scenes
Awards 2015 – Venue of the Year Award at the annual HQ Theatre awards 2016 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2017 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2017 – UK Theatre's Most Welcoming Venue in the South West 2017 – Muddy Stilettos Best Theatre in the South West 2018 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2019 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
Summer Youth Project 1994 – Bugsy Malone 1995 – Annie 1996 – 42nd Street 1997 – My Fair Lady 1998 – Oliver! 1999 – Me and My Girl 2000 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 2001 – Crazy for You 2002 – West Side Story 2003 – Fame – 10th Anniversary year of SYP 2004 – The Sound of Music 2005 – Guys and Dolls 2006 – Annie 2007 – No show due to Temporary Closure 2008 – Oliver! 2009 – Boogie Nights 2010 – The Wizard of Oz 2011 – Anything Goes 2012 – West Side Story 2013 – Our House 2014 – Bugsy Malone – 20th anniversary of SYP 2015 – Hairspray 2016 – Grease 2017 – Summer Holiday 2018 – Oliver! 2019 – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2020, 2021 – No show due to COVID-19 2022 – Legally Blonde 2023 – The Wizard of Oz 2024 - The Little Mermaid 2025 - Annie 2026 - Little Shop of Horrors''
References
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