| "Large Detailed Survey of Theatres and Performance Buildings" |
Theatre History |
| Rob Firman- The Theatres and Performance Buildings of South Wales , AuthorHouse , September 18, 2018 |
This large and incredibly detailed survey of theatres and performance buildings seeks to cover the area which is within a two hour drive of Cardiff and has set the standard for future theatre historians. Rob Firman, an architect and Director of the Cardiff-based practice Austin- Smith:Lord, has followed the basic structure of The Theatres Trust database and, in so doing, has avoided the trap that leads many to construct yet another approach to defining the major characteristics of theatres. This is a highly detailed and informative volume which includes not only the major theatre buildings but is an encyclopaedia of those splendid Miners’ Institutes, which were the centre of so many small communities. As such it has great value as a book on community activity and ownership which is without compare. Firman begins by placing his material in an historic and contemporary context which ought to become essential reading for politicians at local and national level. He identifies opportunities which are there to be taken – even in an age of austerity – as well as opportunities lost, which include the successes and failures of national bodies. I found this book absolutely magnetic and read the 452 pages with ever increasing knowledge of the incredible buildings which have been allowed to go as well as those which still exist. The main part of the book is given over to the existing buildings – in various states of repair and use and this is followed by sections on ”Theatre buildings converted to other uses” and “The lost theatre buildings”, with all sections divided into administrative areas. Unless one has an intimate knowledge of the area this can be confusing and an additional map would have been useful to complement the splendid maps covering buildings visited; those derelict and moth listed building location and ownership of existing buildings. The descriptions of the buildings are full and informative, and it is interesting to note that some local architects were responsible for a number of the Miners’ Institutes The approach which only identifies the original architect in the entry for each theatre means that important architects like Frank Matcham receive only a passing mention in an entry when their work remained the major influence on the building for most of its existence. Nowhere are we given information about the decorator or plasterer which is a pity. It is also suggested that in a number of cases where “stage details” are not known, reference to early volumes of The Stage would fill some of the gaps. The book is rich in illustrations which generally reflect the building as it now is. The lack of captions can betime consuming as each geographic section begins with an un-named illustration which then requires identification. It is the sections on buildings converted to other uses and lost theatres that were the most confusing and where there is no criticism of the failure of the listing system and local authorities to protect listed buildings. Many of the “converted” seem to have very similar histories to those in the main section. However, these are niggling criticisms of a quite splendid book, full of information and an excellent introduction. This is a book for others to copy and it can only be hoped that one day all the UK will be covered in such a detailed and accurate manner. Congratulation to Rob Firman for leading the way by providing a book which is an essential volume for all those interested in theatre architecture. |
Reviewed by: Michael Sell |
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