Rebuilding Lyceum Theatre, Heath Street, Crewe

In 1885 the Crewe Lyceum Theatre Buildings Company (Ltd) was formed by local businessmen to provide a purpose-built theatre in the town. Designed by Alfred Darbyshire, the New Lyceum Theatre  opened on the 21st November 1887, but on 11 March, 1910 a fire completely destroyed the building. The shareholders decide to rebuild a theatre on the same site, to the designs of Albert Winstanley with seating for 850 in the auditorium. It was opened on Monday 6th September, 1911 for variety, revue, and pantomime. Two balconies with slips to superimposed stage boxes surmounted by onion shaped dome canopies. High relief plasterwork on fronts of boxes and balconies - cartouches supported by reclining female figures. Circular coved centre to auditorium ceiling decorated with heavily scrolled brackets and garlands. Elliptical proscenium arch of 28 feet.Externally it featured a plain gabled facade. In 1955 it was by the corporation for £15,000. Auditorium restored 1992. Exterior renovated, new foyer/bar/office block added to left-hand side 1994. Plans for raising the fly tower have not been implemented.