Theatres in Dunstable, Bedfordshire

The Grove Theatre - The Palace Theatre / Cinema - Marchant's Picturedrome / Ritz / Union / ABC

The Grove Theatre, Court Drive, Grove Park, Dunstable

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the Grove Theatre, Dunstable in February 2020 - Click to Interact.

The Grove Theatre is a modern purpose built Theatre situated in Grove Park, Dunstable, and was designed by Glenn Howells Architects. The Theatre opened on the 21st of April 2007 with a Gala hosted by Brian Blessed, and then later had an official opening in July 2007. The Theatre can seat 780 people in its two level Horse Shoe shaped auditorium consisting of stalls and one circle and has raised side and rear seating in large boxes making for quite an intimate auditorium for a modern Theatre. The colour scheme of the auditorium is of red walls, grey seating, and a slatted hardwood circle front.

The Auditorium of the Grove Theatre, Dunstable during fitting out - Courtesy Roger Fox, Theatreplan.

Above - The Auditorium of the Grove Theatre, Dunstable during fitting out - Courtesy Roger Fox, Theatreplan.

The Grid at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable during fitting out - Courtesy Roger Fox, Theatreplan. The Theatre has several bars for patrons and a spacious foyer and box office, it also has a large fully equipped stage, flies, and large rear scene dock, and four dressing rooms, two chorus rooms, and a green room.

Right - The Grid at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable during fitting out - Courtesy Roger Fox, Theatreplan.

There is also a lift at the front of the stage which can be used as an orchestra pit or an extension of the stage. The stalls level retractable seating can also be removed in under two hours so as to create a flat floor venue for 1,000 people.

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

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.

The Palace Theatre / Cinema, 55 High Street North, Dunstable

Including Information on Marchant's Picturedrome / Later The Ritz / Union / ABC Cinema / Dunstable Conference Centre at 51, High Street North

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the Dunstable Conference Centre, formerly the Picturedrome / Ritz / Union Cinema and next door the Site of the former Palace Theatre / Cinema - Click to Interact.

The former Palace Theatre / Cinema, Dunstable whilst under the ownership of Union Cinemas in the 1930s. The Palace Theatre was opened in 1920 by Fred Marchant to replace his former Picturedrome next door which he'd first opened in 1912. The old Theatre was primarily a Cinema for early films but did also have a small stage and one dressing room. The Cinema was operated by Fred Marchant from the outset until its closure in 1917, a new Cinema called the Ritz Cinema, later the Union Cinema, was later built on its site in 1937, details below.

Right - The former Palace Theatre / Cinema, Dunstable whilst under the ownership of Union Cinemas in the 1930s.

In 1920 Marchant had his new Palace Theatre / Cinema built next door to the earlier Picturedrome, designed by Franklin & Deacon Architects of Luton. This was larger than the former building and could seat over 500 people in its two level auditorium, stalls and one circle. It was also equipped with a small stage and dressing rooms which was regularly used, mostly for amateur theatricals.

Councillor J. F Marchant, the original owner of the Picturedrome and Palace Theatre / Cinema, Dunstable - From The Bioscope, 22nd of January 1930. In January 1930 Marchant sold the Palace Theatre to the Southan Morris Cinema Circuit who then converted it for showing the latest 'Talkie' pictures. This was so successful that the following year they removed the stage so as to enlarge the seating capacity of the auditorium and that was the end of its live theatre usage.

Left - Councillor J. F Marchant, the original owner of the Picturedrome and Palace Theatre / Cinema, Dunstable - From The Bioscope, 22nd of January 1930.

The Palace Cinema was later taken over by Union Cinemas who would eventually build a new Cinema on the site of the earlier Picturedrome next door, which opened as the Ritz Cinema on the 27th of September 1937.

In a strange twist of fate the Palace Cinema was then closed in 1939 and demolished and entertainment of Dunstable patrons was carried on at the original site of the old Picturedrome next door, in the new purpose built Ritz Cinema.

The Ritz Cinema was designed by Leslie H. Kemp and was much larger than both the former Cinemas and included a cafe for its patrons above the main entrance and foyer.

The Union Cinema, Dunstable and next door the former Palace Theatre / Cinema, Dunstable in the late 1930s.

Above - The Union Cinema, Dunstable and next door the former Palace Theatre / Cinema, Dunstable in the late 1930s.

This third incarnation, the Ritz Cinema, was renamed the Union Cinema soon after opening and would later be renamed ABC in 1961, ABC had taken over Union Cinemas in October 1937. In 1969 the Cinema was taken over by the Star Cinema circuit and renamed the Studio Cinema. This was short lived however and it soon went over to Bingo and no more Films were shown. Closed in 2001 it was then converted into a Nightclub called Cubes which opened the following year.

In 2010 the former Cinema was sold and then restored and converted into the Dunstable Conference Centre which opened in February 2011. The former Union Cinema is today a Grade II Listed Building. The site of the former Palace Theatre / Cinema is today in use as shops with flats above.