IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Church Street, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 8DN

The entrance to the theatre is in the middle. There is a complicated history. Basically what you see outside is mainly the shell of a former cinema built in 1939, and closed in the 1960's. Inside the building was rebuilt but part of the stage and some surrounding parts were retained. The new theatre had 530 seats. A lot of support was given by Dame Sybil Thorndike, the actress, and her husband. The theatre opened in 1969 and was opened by the late Princess Margaret. In 1997 the theatre, then known as the Thorndike Theatre, closed and stayed shut for four years. In 2001 it re-opened with new management, and after extensive refurbishment. The name also changed.

Commercial buildings in the northern section of Church Street, completed in 1969. Included in the range of buildings is Leatherhead Theatre (see Image), formerly the Thorndike Theatre, built in the shell of the former Crescent Cinema, which itself had been built in 1939 on the site of The Manor House, a large Georgian house. "The Manor House" is now commemorated by being the name given to 21 Church Street, in the centre of this block.

Commercial buildings in the northern section of Church Street, completed in 1969. Included in the range of buildings is Leatherhead Theatre (see Image), formerly the Thorndike Theatre, built in the shell of the former Crescent Cinema, which itself had been built in 1939 on the site of The Manor House, a large Georgian house. "The Manor House" is now commemorated by being the name given to 21 Church Street, beyond the theatre entrance.

Theatre in Church Street built in 1969 as the Thorndike Theatre in the shell of the former Crescent Cinema, which itself had been built in 1939 on the site of The Manor House, a large Georgian house. The theatre, designed by Roderick Ham and named after Dame Sybil Thorndike who performed in the opening production, fell into bankruptcy in 1997 but reopened as the Leatherhead Theatre in 2001. Its interior, including much use of board-marked shuttered bare concrete and skylights for natural lighting, was heralded as an outstanding piece of theatre design, receiving a RIBA award in 1970. It was grade II listed in 1999 - see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1387322.

Entrance to Leatherhead Theatre. The theatre was built in 1969 as the Thorndike Theatre in the shell of the former Crescent Cinema, which itself had been built in 1939 on the site of The Manor House, a large Georgian house. The theatre, designed by Roderick Ham and named after Dame Sybil Thorndike who performed in the opening production, fell into bankruptcy in 1997 but reopened as the Leatherhead Theatre in 2001. Its interior, including much use of board-marked shuttered bare concrete and skylights for natural lighting, was heralded as an outstanding piece of theatre design, receiving a RIBA award in 1970. It was grade II listed in 1999 - see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1387322. In the foreground are five stars set in the pavement as part of the upgrade of the area in 2017. Hollywood style, they commemorate 5 stars of different genres with local connections, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Sir Cliff Richard, Noel Coward and Richard Briers - see Image, Image, Image, Image and Image for close ups.

Commemorative star to Sir Noël Coward, one of a collection of five stars set into the pavement in front of Leatherhead Theatre in 2017 - see Image for wider view and Image, Image, Image, Image and Image for close ups of all five.

Commemorative star to Richard Briers, one of a collection of five stars set into the pavement in front of Leatherhead Theatre in 2017 - see Image for a wider view and Image, Image, Image, Image and Image for close ups of all five.

Commemorative star to Sir Michael Caine, one of a collection of five stars set into the pavement in front of Leatherhead Theatre in 2017 - see Image for wider view and Image, Image, Image, Image and Image for close ups of all five.

Commemorative star to Sir Cliff Richard, one of a collection of five stars set into the pavement in front of Leatherhead Theatre in 2017 - see Image for wider view and Image, Image, Image, Image and Image for close ups of all five.

Commemorative star to Lord Laurence Oliver, one of a collection of five stars set into the pavement in front of Leatherhead Theatre in 2017 - see Image for a wider view and Image, Image, Image, Image and Image for close ups of all five.