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The Playhouse Theatre was built as a Chapel in 1891 and converted into a Cinema in 1920, the Picture Playhouse. It had a small and intimate auditorium with one Balcony and retained much of the feel of the original building including its arched windows and open timber trussed ceiling. The foyer was small too and the projection box was fitted into the eaves of the roof.

The Theatre was used for live productions from 1947 by Playhouse Productions Ltd., on its larger than expected stage, and ran a weekly rep of more than 60 productions until 1949 when it was turned back into a Cinema again, the Continentale.

When the owner, Miles Byrne, died in 1986 the Cinema was closed and the building remained empty for years until eventually it was bought by developers and the auditorium was turned into 3 town houses, the stage into 1 house, and the dressing room etc. were demolished. The Town Houses do however still retain the exterior walls of the original building.

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