IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Wellington Court, East Circus Street, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 5AX

A real slice of the 1960s. Pevsner calls it, "the most imaginative post-war theatre in the country". By Peter Moro, 1961-63. Full of clever features such as the round auditorium, seen protruding above the square foyer. Grade II* listed. Here it is, not long after it was built: Image]

The Playhouse was designed by Peter Moro and opened in 1963. Previously the company had used a former cinema (still there http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/790013 ) on the corner of Goldsmith Street. If, like me, you were an A-level English student in the mid sixties, the Playhouse was the place to be: for three-and-six (17.5p), student members could see John Neville as Richard II, Judi Dench as St Joan and playing opposite Edward Woodward in "Private Lives", and a whole host of other wonderful things - one heck of an education, subsidised by an enlightened city council. This photo is taken across Wellington Circus and also shows what might have been Nottingham's first pavement cafe. A VW Beetle, a Ford Cortina and a Mini complete a real sixties scene. Compare this photograph with my 2009 picture http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1592180 .

The Playhouse was designed by Peter Moro and opened in 1964. Its frontage is reflected in Anish Kapoor's Sky Mirror.

Compare this photograph with my 1967 picture http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1537550 .

Nottingham Playhouse and the Sky Mirror

Seen across the Wellington Circus garden. The theatre was a pioneering design for British theatre with the introduction of modern production philosophy dispensing with the traditional proscenium arch. Designed by Peter Moro and opened in 1963. Listed Grade II*.

The Sky Mirror on the Nottingham Playhouse forecourt was designed by Anish Kapoor. A six-metre-wide concave dish of polished stainless steel; it weighs ten tonnes and is angled upwards, its surface reflecting the ever-changing environment. It took six years from conceiving the idea to its unveiling on 27 April 2001 and it cost £900,000. It was manufactured in Finland.A lawn in the centre of Wellington Circus is visible behind.

Nottingham Playhouse, Wellington Circus, with the Albert Hall to its left. The Albert Hall was previously known as the Albert Hall Methodist Mission and was built in the style of an Edwardian theatre or Music Hall and, as was the practice with temperance halls, concerts and other events were staged there. The hall was officially opened by Lady Florence Boot, wife of Jesse Boot of Boots on the 15th September 1910.

Reflection in Anish Kapoor's 'Sky Mirror' outside the Nottingham Playhouse.