The Tower

The Tower stands in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, as a former repertory theatre. It opened in 1946 under the name Wycombe Repertory Theatre and closed in 1958. The building seated about 300 people when it first opened. Its original managers had served together in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during the Second World War. The first play performed there was Gerald Savoy’s George and Margaret. The theatre changed names twice during its short life. In March 1952 it became the Tower Theatre. A year later it was taken over by George Radford, who produced The Gioconda Smile as the first play under his management. In 1954 actor-producer Neil Gibson took charge and renamed it the Intimate Theatre in 1955. Despite efforts like a membership bar and Supporters’ Club dances, financial problems grew through the late 1950s. Visitors today find a quiet building that once held nearly 400 shows in twelve years. The stage where Hugh Williams attended the opening still stands. The foyer where programmes were sold and drinks served remains unchanged. The walls carry the memory of plays that once drew crowds to High Wycombe’s small but lively theatre scene.