Charles Cryer Theatre
The Charles Cryer Theatre
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| Address | 39 High Street, Carshalton, SM5 3BB London England |
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| Coordinates | 51°21′57″N 0°09′35″W / 51.365941°N 0.159602°W |
| Owner | Sutton London Borough Council |
| Operator | Sutton Theatres Trust |
| Capacity | 68–125 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1991 by HRH Prince Edward |
| Architect | Edward Cullinan Architects |
| Website | |
| http://www.suttontheatres.co.uk/ | |
The Charles Cryer Theatre is a studio theatre located in the High Street in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton. The theatre is named after the man who led the campaign to open the Secombe Theatre in neighbouring Sutton. It was opened by His Royal Highness Prince Edward in 1991.
The theatre is housed in a building which was originally built as a public hall in 1874 for the village. Prior to becoming a theatre it has also been used as a roller skating rink (from 1900 to 1912) and a cinema (from 1912 to 1939).
To convert the building to a theatre, the roof and the facade were renewed. A stone-set wind vane and three red brick entrance arches were also kept. Most notable are the tiled eaves to each side of the building, which project past the front. The interior was completely renewed including new staircases and porthole shaped windows. A new floor was designed to divide the hall in half. There is a Thai restaurant downstairs with the box office while upstairs are the auditorium and dressing rooms. The auditorium itself features flexible seating for between 68 and 125, dependent upon the arrangement of seating. The stage has limited space to the sides. There is a rehearsal room for performing to 20 people or less.
The 1992 RIBA Downland Design Award judges commented that "the project makes a significant social contribution to the High Street. The theatre is in constant use and well-liked".
Past performances have included a "sensitive treatment by a clever director and fine cast" in 2009 of Anton Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya by the Square Peg Theatre Company, which received a five star review from the Croydon Advertiser. In 2013 the theatre hosted the Breakfast Cat Theatre Company's treatment of George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, which was noted by the Croydon Citizen for its "skill and flair."
Other past productions have included Steel Magnolias, The Tempest, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Witches of Eastwick.
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