The Old Bonington: The History of Arnold’s largest 1000-seater Cinema and Theatre.

About

Tuesday 18th February 2025
Arnold Methodist Church

Tickets: £1 members, £3 non members

Bob Massey is a retired theatre consultant who has planned many theatres and performance spaces throughout the world. Alongside his consultancy work, he was for 30 years the technical manager of a theatre in Nottingham, running shows and organising events for visiting artists. The old ‘Bonington Theatre’ in Arnold was the second grand venture at an entertainment building in the town. It was a full theatre with full flying and staging equipment to rival even the Theatre Royal in Nottingham.  A unique building, as it was completely built around another existing building called the St Albans Picturedrome and all whilst that building was still in use. The result produced a much larger and enhanced entertainment centre. Both buildings were owned and operated by local Arnold businessman, Joe Wardle and were designed by two local Arnold-based architects. This is the story of that theatre, the live shows and the films that graced its stage over the years from the era of silent films to cinemascope. 

All are welcome to come and listen to Bob Massey’s fascinating account of this incredible building.