Sutton Arts Theatre, South Parade

Image: © Robin Stott Taken: 22 Sep 2012

As with the Methodist Church Centre opposite, parents were collecting children at the end of a morning performance – or perhaps a rehearsal. From the website: http://www.suttonartstheatre.co.uk/index.htm The story of Sutton Arts Theatre started one evening in 1944 when Paul Rice called unexpectedly with a proposition to put to Bill Wesley Harkcom. Paul intended to produce a play somewhere in Sutton Coldfield and was having trouble finding a leading man. Wesley Harkcom was an experienced actor and after a long discussion he agreed to take the lead. So began a long and fruitful friendship. In 1946 Sutton Arts Council was formed, after the Libraries and Arts committees of Sutton invited representatives of local dramatic societies to form a central body. This amalgamation resulted in the new company producing three plays a year. Sutton Town Hall continued to be used to stage the productions. The high quality productions continued and in 1997 the theatre took a significant step towards securing its future when the freehold of the site was purchased from Birmingham City Council.

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