Learn about the history of Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre
Visitors to Chesterfield Museum can experience the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd in a new exhibition about the history of the Pomegranate Theatre.
Stage Presence, which runs from this Saturday, September 13, to November 22, charts the history of the theatre, which is owned and managed by Chesterfield Borough Council.
It is the oldest civic theatre in the country, formed in 1949, and celebrates its 65th anniversary this year.
The exhibition, mounted with Chesterfield Theatre Friends, looks back at the life of the building, the Stephenson Memorial Hall, as an institute, library and cinema before the post-war movement to civic theatres.
On display will be images of some of the famous faces who graced the stage in the age of rep including Peter Sallis, Nigel Davenport, David McCallum, Diana Rigg, Hannah Gordon, Edward Fox and Donald Sutherland.
The exhibition concludes by looking at the Pomegranate Theatre today and the efforts of the Chesterfield Theatre Friends to maintain an accurate record of the theatre’s history.
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s executive member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “The Pomegranate Theatre is held in such affection by people in and around Chesterfield and this exhibition will bring back memories for many of them.
“Our thanks go to Chesterfield Theatre Friends for all their efforts.”
Chesterfield Museum is open each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.