The Seagull is a theatre and cinema in Pakefield, a suburb of Lowestoft in Suffolk, run almost entirely by volunteers from the local community. It plays host to regional and national touring theatre companies as well as films and other acts, and runs its own production company known as The Seagull Rep. The slogan for The Seagull is "Transforming the Community through the Arts".
The venue has a main auditorium seating of 112Caesar.E Abi Titmuss hits the stage in Macbeth, The Times Online, 22 November 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2011. including space for wheelchair users, as well as a recording studio, dance studio and bar. The venue also has on-site car parking.
History
The building is of Victorian origin and was previously the site of the Morton Road School from 1897 to 1939.The Seagull Theatre Lowestoft, Music and Events, 11 January 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.Save Our Seagull: an artistic vision for the community, Save Our Seagull. Retrieved 2 April 2011. It never reopened as a school after World War II and was used as an annex to Lowestoft College from 1945 as a centre for coachbuilding and engineering courses. The building was converted into a theatre in 1967 and opened as The Seagull.
Suffolk County Council, which owned the theatre, withdrew funding in 2006 as a result of budget cuts and the venue closed.Battle to save popular theatre is won, East Anglian Daily Times, 27 April 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2011.Quinn.M (2007) , The Stage, 3 May 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2011.No more free food for council chiefs, Eastern Daily Press, 25 August 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2011.Seagull is flying again, East Coast Live, 27 April 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2011. As a result, The SOS ('Save our Seagull') Charity Trust Group was formed with patrons including actress Dame Judi Dench, actor Des Barrit and regional broadcaster Helen McDermott.Dame Judi backs theatre campaign, BBC News website, 19 January 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2011. The campaign was also backed by author Louis de Bernières.Author Joins Outcry Over Theatre Closure, Eastern Daily Press, 9 September 2006. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
In 2007 the council sold The Seagull for an estimated £250,000Theatre thrown a lifeline, East Anglian Daily Times, 13 November 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2011. and it was reopened in October 2007 with a gala performance by jazz singer Liane Carroll.Rescued theatre reopens, Eastern Daily Press, 26 October 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2011. It is currently undergoing continued renovation and has received investment in the form of new technical equipment.
A 2009 production of Macbeth featured former model Abi Titmuss as Lady Macbeth,Kendall.P (2009) Abi Titmuss: Glamour girl to Lady Macbeth, The Telegraph, 8 November 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2011.From the wards to the boards, BBC News website, 12 November 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2011.Taking Macbeth to the nightclubs, BBC News website, 24 November 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2011. while in 2010 singer Jessie Buckley from the BBC TV show I'd Do Anything performed at the theatre.Jessie all set for Seagull, Lowestoft Journal, 16 April 2010 . Retrieved 3 April 2011. In 2011 folk musician Jez Lowe from BBC Radio 2 did a show at the theatre,Oscar Wilde classic play at The Seagull, Lowestoft Journal, 1 April 2011 . Retrieved 27 April 2011. as did the comedian and folk singer Richard Digance in 2015.Richard Digance at the Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft (2015)
Today the theatre hosts a varied programme of plays, concerts, charity events, films and live music shows throughout the year showcasing local talent and regional and national touring theatre companies, musicians and entertainers. In addition to the 112 seat Auditorium the theatre operates three studios for dance and acting schools, rehearsal and performance space. The theatre receives no funding except what it raises through its own activities; the staff includes two paid employees and about 50 volunteers.
Gallery
References
External links The Seagull