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The building, which opened in January 2000, combines the intimacy of the old Market Theatre with modern purpose-built facilities. It provides a dedicated venue for amateur and professional performing arts, and is of enormous benefit to the town and the surrounding area.
The Market Theatre is situated in Market Street, which runs through the former Cattle Market between Bye Street and New Street, very near the centre of the town of Ledbury, Herefordshire. The area opposite our frontage is now Ledbury's Community Hospital.
Ledbury is 9 miles from Malvern, about 16 miles from Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester, 50 miles from Bristol and Birmingham and 5 miles from the M50 junction 2. Click here to see where we are.
Click to see a ground floor plan of the building, together with stage dimensions and a list of equipment. The whole building, or just the Foyer, is available for hire. The auditorium is suitable for concerts, meetings, etc, as well as for theatrical events. The Foyer is ideal for small wedding receptions, club dinners, etc.
The Theatre has:
The Foyer, showing the Balcony.
Note the Theatre's Masks of Comedy and Tragedy, mounted above the bar. These are made from solid copper, and were a leaving present from the theatre in Kitwe, Zambia, to a past member, Meg Fanshawe, when she retired to England. Meg bequeathed these masks to LADS, but sadly she did not see the completion of the new Theatre.
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In common with the airlines and railways, all times are now shown in
24-hour format.
Also, in common with the airlines, all times are local....
Our 2008 programme continues with:
Opus Theatre Company presents
Confessions of Honour by Gerry Hinks on Saturday 13th September at
20:00.
Frederick Salisbury VC is, on a special celebratory day, to give his medal
back to the regiment in which he served in WW2. But did Frederick actually do
what he thought he did to win his medal? A touchingly emotive and very funny
play that twists and turns and leaves the audience wanting to know more!
Tickets £10 (students £4).
We're delighted to welcome back Malvern Big Band
on Saturday 27th September at 20:00.
Tickets £7.
To celebrate 70 years of LADS, our Autumn
Production will be Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit, to
be performed on Wednesday 15th through to Saturday 18th October at
20:00.
A boisterously, joyously theatrical classic from the pen of a quintessentially
English wit, which centres on socialite Charles Condomine’s haunting by the
ghost of his first wife Elvira following a séance, and Elvira's increasingly
desperate efforts to disrupt Charles' current marriage. The comical and
eccentric medium Madame Arcati completes the most unusual and unlikely ménage
à trois in the history of the stage!
"Anything might happen when I am in a trance." ... Madame Arcati
Noël Coward wrote Blithe Spirit during a stay at Portmeirion in 1941,
after his London office and apartment had been destroyed in the Blitz. Coward
felt the public would want something amusing and escapist during the dark days
of the war, when Russia and the USA had yet to join forces with the Allies.
It took him only 7 days to write and, despite poor reviews by the critics,
proved a hit with the public - it was performed nearly 2000 times during
its first run. The title is taken from Shelley's poem
"To a Skylark"
Tickets £7 (students £4).
A Shadows Tribute with a bit of Cliff! -
Bungleflint
on Saturday 25th October at 20:00.
Apache, Wonderful Land, Foot Tapper, Dance On, Kon Tiki, Summer Holiday
and many more great hits.
Tickets £10.
The renowned
Hijinx from Wales are back on Saturday 1st November at 20:00
with The Other Woman
Set on an isolated South Wales farm during the 1st World War, the play
explores the struggles of young mother Megan Watkins, left alone when her
husband goes off to war. A young conscientious objector arrives at the
farmhouse, seeking refuge. Meg disguises him as her female cousin from
Cardiff, but has no idea of the difficulties that will unfold when her husband
returns.
Tickets £10 (students £4) - supported by Arts Alive.
Gloucestershire’s Fabulous Old Spot Theatre Company
bring us The King of Spain’s Daughter by Olly Crick
on Friday 28th November at 20:00
We had to bring you this one - they are brilliant! Deft professionalism,
razor sharp wit, the play has all the ingredients for a happy ending: a loving
couple, a thatched cottage in the country and a new-born baby. A unique and
stirring tale told in Old Spot’s inimitable style: music, masks, high drama
and low farce. We guarantee a great 'feel good' evening. Not to be missed!
Tickets £10 (students £4) - supported by Arts Alive.
Magician Extraordinaire
Mark Townsend will provide One Enchanted Evening on Friday
12th December at 20:00
Mark has performed all over the world, and has entertained everyone from
Massai Warriors to Catholic nuns! His show will take you on an inspirational
journey, where you will encounter truly spell-binding magic and come away
with a re-awakened sense of the beauty and wonder of life. In such a fast-paced
and disenchanted world, you simply can't afford to miss it.
Tickets £8 (students £4).
Looking ahead to January 2009, LADS panto will be Dick Whittington. Tickets go on sale at the beginning of November.
Our Box Office for all live shows (ie. not the Cinema - click here for info.), unless otherwise noted above, is now the Ledbury Tourist Information Centre, who are in the Master's House in St. Katherine's car park. Their opening hours are:
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From 1st April to 30th September |
09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday |
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From 1st October to 31st March |
09:30 to 16:30 Monday to Saturday |
They offer a telephone booking service on
The Theatre is wheelchair accessible, has a disabled
toilet and a hearing loop.
Please advise us of any special requirements when booking.
The Cinema has a 20-foot screen and 5-channel Dolby sound.
Film days will generally be the second Wednesday of each month
at 10:30 and the last Friday at 20:00, unless otherwise shown.
Complimentary tea and coffee will be served from 10:00 before all morning showings.
The bar will be open from 19:00 before all evening showings.
Please note there will be no Friday evening film in August.
The 2008 season continues with:
Wednesday 10th September - 10:30
Friday 26th September - 20:00
Wednesday 8th October - 10:30
Friday 31st October - 20:00
Wednesday 12th November - 10:30
Friday 21st November - 20:00
Wednesday 10th December - 10:30
There will be no Friday evening film in December.
Admission to all films will be £4 adults and
£2.50 students, available on the door
(unless shown otherwise above).
These details have been moved to our Links page.
The Market Theatre is owned and run for the
community by Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society (LADS).
LADS was founded in 1938 and now has over 90
members. It puts on three productions a year, including a
pantomime. The Theatre is staffed entirely by LADS volunteers, who work
front of house as well as behind the scenes. LADS general meetings take
place in The Market Theatre on the first Monday of the month (except January,
May and August), starting at 20:00.
Find out more about Youth Theatre:
The Theatre runs a drama workshop in conjunction with Hereford Courtyard on Tuesdays
after school for 7-14 year-olds
New Members are always welcome.
If you would like to join us in any capacity - on or off the stage - please
come along or make contact.
(Counter courtesy
www.digits.com)
Last updated Aug 23rd 2008.
Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society
LADS, the history of this theatre, its predecessor,
and of theatre and cinema in Ledbury.
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