History of the Lace Market Theatre Trust
The Lace Market Theatre Trust developed from two amateur dramatic societies founded in Nottingham in the 1920s; the Nottingham Playgoers Club (1922) and the Nottingham Philodramatic Society (1926).
These two amalgamated in 1946 to become the Nottingham Theatre Club. Their base from 1946 to 1951 was the Bluecoat School. In 1951 the Club moved to premises in Hutchinson Street, much closer to the city centre, and stayed there until 1970 when they were ousted as part of the major slum clearance and redevelopment of the city of that decade. It was at this point that the then members took a courageous and decisive step: they raised the money to buy an old dilapidated paint store. This old build had once been a sectarian Chapel, built in 1760, and later became a school, where William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was a pupil.
At the time they moved in ,1972, the Lace Market was a rather run down area of Victorian factories, monuments to the once great industries that made Nottingham a by-word for lace, hosiery and pretty girls. Tight funds meant that most of the conversion had to be carried out by the members themselves in their spare time. What emerged one year later was a 118 seat auditorium and space in the upstairs bar for studio performances. The aim was, and has remained, to put on plays that were challenging for actors and the technical crews and ones which otherwise people would have to go to London to see.
Training by doing was always a part of the club and the concept of small scale productions in the bar area where first time directors could cut their teeth was introduced. These productions were known as "Fents" - a name taken from the off-cuts of lace sold at bargain prices and paid homage to the area in which the theatre was situated. It soon became clear that more space was needed both for the stage and for equipment and rehearsals.
The opportunity came to purchase more land and it was decided that, to facilitate fund raising, the Lace Market Theatre Trust Ltd should be formed in 1977. £40,000 was raised for a three storey extension at the rear and a further £40,000 was raised for its completion in 1984. The building was owned by the Trust and the Club rented it from them. While the Club continued the policy of challenging drama, the Trust began furthering the educational responsibilities of a charity by giving grants to students who were going on to drama school as at that time drama students were only able to apply for discretionary grants from the Local Education Authority and these were in short supply.
Shortly after the completion of the extension, Prunella Scales and Timothy West were invited to become patrons of the theatre and this they agreed to do so. By the year 2000 the Club were beginning to feel cramped. The extensive wardrobe had moved into rented premises, first in St. Mary's Gate and then in Stoney Street in the heart of the Lace Market District. The area was by this time no longer the poor relation of the city but at the centre of plans for regeneration. In the process of the development the Lace Market Theatre Trust had acquired some land at the side of the theatre and it was decided that this was the moment for redevelopment. It was also the opportune moment to merge the Nottingham Theatre Club with the Trust and this was done in 2003.
The Lace Market Theatre continues to present non-professional drama to a high standard for its audiences whilst providing opportunities for those with ambitions to work in the professional theatre as well as those who want a creative outlet.
