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Bristol's Colston Hall was built on the site of a former 13th century Carmelite Friary which was subsequently replaced by a mansion known as the Great House. This was later turned into a boys school. In 1861 the house was bought and demolished by the Colston Hall Company and their new public hall was built its place, opening on the 20th of September 1867. However, on the 1st of September 1898 this building was almost completely destroyed by fire .

Right - Programme detail for a production of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company performing at the Colston Hall, Bristol in September 1923.

In 1901, a new Hall was built on the site and reopened as the Colston Hall. This was bought from the Colston Hall Company in 1919 by the Bristol Corporation who, now known as the City Council, continue to manage the building today.

For a short period from 1924 the Hall became known as Bristol's Little Theatre and more information on this incarnation can be found furthur down on this page.

In 1935 the Hall was remodeled to provide better site-lines but only ten years later Colston Hall was again destroyed by fire, this time from a discarded cigarette, in 1945.

Left - Programme detail for a production of 'Magda and Uplifted' with Mrs. Patrick Campbell at the Colston Hall, Bristol in June 1923.

The Colston Hall was again rebuilt and reopened in 1951 to mark the Festival Of Britain. It was here that the Beatles made an early performance whilst supporting the Tommy Roe and Chris Montez tour on march the 15th 1963.

Right - Programme detail for a production of 'Treasure Island' with Arthur Bourchier at the Colston Hall, Bristol in December 1923.

The Colston Hall has since been host to a great variety of productions from The Dave Brubeck Quartet to Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, and Bob Dylan, and after a major refit in the early 1990s continues to be a popular venue with both artists and audiences alike.

You may like to visit the Colston Hall's own Website here...

The following questions and answers may enlighten those who may still he ignorant of the work carried on at Bristol's "Little" Theatre: -

Is the company an amateur one? - No: all the members of the company are professionals, and have had considerable stage experience. The local Press has on very many occasions spoken most highly of their work in Bristol's "Little" Theatre.

Right - Programme for the Bristol Little Theatre's production of 'The Return of the Prodigal' at the Colston Hall, Bristol in April 1924.

If the venture is a financial success, what will happen to the profit? - The Executive Council consists of honorary officials, who are making nothing out of the venture, nor do they intend to do so. Any profit will be devoted to the furtherance of the repertory movement in our city.

Is the theatre actually a theatre, or is it merely a "fit-up"? - It is a theatre. The Colston Hall Committee of the Corporation must be congratulated on their vision and enterprise. The stage and proscenium are permanent fixtures, as is also the stage lighting. The seating is new, and the hall has been redecorated. Every seat is bookable in advance, and patrons can see and hear from every part of the theatre.

Is the theatre entirely filled by subscribers? -No. The Council made a special point of this, so that the capacity of the theatre should not be filled by subscribers, and that there should be plenty of seats available to other members of the public.

Left - Programme detail for the Daly's Theatre production of 'The Lady of the Rose' at the Colston Hall, Bristol in October 1923.

During the first three nights of the week there are many seats available. For the rest of the week the house is extremely well patronised, and as a matter of fact on many Friday and Saturday nights people have been turned away, and the "house full" boards exhibited. Subscribers are being specially asked, where it is immaterial what night they visit the Theatre, to do so in the early part of the week. - Bristol Evening News. - From a programme for Bristol's Little Theatre of 1924.