Lyceum Theatre

The Lyceum Theatre stands in Heath Street in Crewe, Cheshire, on the site of a former Roman Catholic church built for Irish railway workers. The present building is an Edwardian brick theatre with a slate roof and a gabled front divided into five bays. A two-storey block to the left houses the entrance and offices, while the auditorium inside has a dress circle, gallery and boxes. Decorative plasterwork includes cartouches and reclining figures on the front, and more on the proscenium arch and ceiling rose. The theatre was rebuilt after a fire in 1910 and again refurbished in 1994. It is worth the journey because the theatre has been a training ground for well-known performers. Glenda Jackson, Richard Beckinsale, Judy Loe and Lynda Bellingham all gained early experience on its stage. The building itself is Grade II listed, recognised in 1976 for its architectural importance. It has survived changes of ownership, a major fire and several refurbishments since its first conversion from a church in 1876. Managed today by Trafalgar Theatres, it continues to host plays, shows and exhibitions. Visitors find a theatre with a three-storey exterior and an interior rich in plaster details. The auditorium’s dress circle and gallery overlook the stage beneath a decorated ceiling rose. The entrance block contains foyer space and offices, while the main building’s Accrington-type brickwork and slate roof give it a solid Edwardian presence. Regular programmes of performances and occasional exhibitions keep the building alive as a cultural venue in Crewe.