The following article has been reproduced from a booklet entitled  “THE FIRST TEN YEARS -The Story of Effort and Achievement making HYDE FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION” which was published in the early 1960‘s. It is a remarkable story of dedication and a battle against the odds which still goes on today. For those of us giving some of our time to the theatre it seems as though not much has changed. Work is still ongoing and the picture below showing the stage with the metal seat legs stacked ready for painting is very reminiscent of recent scenes when the seating was once again refurbished. Many of the wishes from that period with regard to improvements have been fulfilled but as with everything some of those improvements need to be done again - time has not looked kindly on some aspects of the building - and so plans are afoot to continue with the never ending task of refurbishment and modernisation.
If you have any information, anecdotes, old photographs of the Festival Theatre including the time when it was The Alexandra Cinema please contact us as this can then be incorporated into this page.
Email info@hydefestivaltheatre.org.uk