Plymouth, Theatres | Hoe Summer Theatre

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

PLYMOUTH THEATRES | HOE SUMMER THEATRE

THE HOE MARQUEE

The Plymouth Blitz in 1941 destroyed the Theatre Royal and the Grand Theatre in Plymouth and all but the Forum Cinema in Devonport. The New Palace Theatre had kept going. During the same period there had been public dances on the Hoe Promenade so perhaps that influenced the decision to erect a stage there for the summer months.

Whatever the reason, in June 1950 a marquee was hired from Messrs R B Tope & Company Ltd at a cost of £70 per week, inclusive of erection, maintenance, dismantling and insurance. It was 180 feet in length and 60 feet wide, and was especially designed for the purpose by Mr George Ryder of Tope's.

The audience at one of the shows or military band concerts in the Hoe Summer Theatre on Plymouth Hoe

The audience during a show or military band concert
in the Hoe Summer Theatre

It was offered to the Corporation for purchase at £1,500 but they originally declined. The cost of erecting a platform, installing electrical equipment and providing wood/canvas seats was £250. When there was a summer storm, Mr Ryder used to make sure it was secure and he personally carried out any maintenance that was required.

On Sunday June 18th 1950 it opened with a military band concert. During that first season the bands of His Majesty's Grenadier Guards, Welsh Guards and Royal Marines (Plymouth) were booked to appear as well as the Black Dyke Mills Band and the Foden Motor Works Band. It was also used for concert parties, orchestral concerts and plays. Admission during that first season cost sixpence for afternoon concerts, which old age pensioners could enjoy for just threepence. In the evenings there was a choice of the shilling seats at the front or the sixpenny ones at towards the back. As can be seen from the picture below, all the seats were at the same level.

At the end of the season the Corporation took up the option to purchase the marquee for £1,200.

From then on all the army, Royal Marine and Royal Air Force Bands that existed after the Second World War played concerts in the big tent. For example, from Sunday August 1st 1954 until the following Saturday the pipes and dancers of the 1st Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders provided the entertainment. Performances were, as usual, at 3 and 7.15pm. August 2nd was the Bank Holiday Monday so naturally in rained. The following day the sun shone so the Band moved outside and played on the Hoe. The sun went in.

On the Thursday evening there was a Grand Scottish Night, which included piping in the haggis. During the programme the City Entertainments' Manager, Mr Percy Cole, tried to make off with some whisky but was captured by Pipers R Pearce and J Smith, who tied him to the pole that held the marquee up over the centre stage.

The Band of the Welsh Guards appeared the following week.

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