The Assembly Hall is built for purpose entertainment hall and first opened its doors in 1939 under Marchioness Camden as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the granting of the town’s charter in 1889. The Theatre, located on Crescent Road in the heart of the town, has always offered a rich eclectic programme from operas and formal dances of the 1940s and 1950s to the rock ‘n’ roll bands of the 1960s, pantomimes and also community shows.
It was the first hall in England to be constructed for adaptation as a broadcasting studio. The auditorium walls are treated with acoustic plaster and special overlapping flaps at the sides and tops of the stage can be left open when plays are in progress, or closed to form a perfect ‘sound box’ when the hall is used for public meetings or orchestral concerts.
At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, London children were evacuated to the Assembly Hall Theatre to waiting for alternative accommodation placement to safer areas. Dances to entertain the troops proved a key part of the war effort, along with the screening of films designed to boost public morale, and many fundraising events were also held.
In the same year Tunbridge Wells Operatic and Dramatic Society, now known as TWODS, presented their first production Pirates of Penzance from 31 May to 3 June. One of the oldest amateur societies in the UK, TWODS continue to delight audiences in the town. The Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra and Kent Opera have also appeared regularly over the years, as well as the popular Kentainers.
Hospital radio was broadcast from the Assembly Hall Theatre during the 1960s and during the same decade on a fortnightly basis, wrestling was a regular sell out. The layout of such an event meant that several rows of seating were placed on the stage with the wrestling ring in front and three great stars of the time performed here; Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus and Kendo Nagasaki.
The Hall has played host to a plethora of entertainment since it opened, including the yearly pantomime and over the years it has welcomed Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella as well as big West End shows including Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Cabaret and Calendar Girls. Comedy, including iconic historical performances from Morecambe and Wise and Norman Wisdom, put the theatre on the map for the modern comedy circuit and has seen regular appearances from comedians such as Simon Amstell, Graham Norton and Jimmy Carr.
Music has also played a huge part in the Assembly Halls’ history including performances from The Rolling Stones in 1964, Jools Holland, The Kinks and also local band Slaves who sold out the venue in 2015 as well as classical musicians Stephane Grapelli, Vanessa Mae and Julian Lloyd Webber.
In 1995, the Assembly Hall Theatre was listed as a building of special architectural and historical interest and from 2001 to 2003, a refurbishment project was carried out at a cost of £2million where the building was updated to modern theatre standards while preserving the original architect’s vision. It included stage electrics, a refurbished bar and foyer areas, new theatre seating, toilets, redecoration and a new lift in the foyer among other improvements such as the original colours of buff, green and silver were reintroduced into the auditorium.
SIT: Deciding where to sit in a theatre can be a tricky. Sit too close to the front and you’ll get neck ache, sit too far away and your view can be obscured. Luckily for you, an inside source told us that rows K to M in the tiered stalls are the best and most popular seats in the house. They offer great views, sound and it’s quick to pop in and out to the bar during the interval.
DRINK: The bar stocks a selection of wines, beers, including Curious Brew which is local to Tenterden, spirits, soft drinks and also keep an eye out for show themed cocktails. Freshly ground, fair trade coffee is available from the coffee bar as well as a variety of teas.
Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LU
www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
