Garrick Theatre, Southport

The theatre was built on the site of the Opera House, which had burned down in 1929. It was designed by George Tonge (1876–1956), an architect practicing in Southport, whose work included designing many cinemas. The auditorium seated 1,600, and there was a large stage, to accommodate musicals, operas and ballet. It opened on 19 December 1932, with the play Firebird, featuring Gladys Cooper. The theatre was sold in 1957 to Essoldo Cinemas, opening on 21 January of that year with the film Love Me Tender. After a brief period as the Essoldo, the name reverted to the Garrick Theatre. From May 1962 no live shows were staged. The application commented: "In general terms, the reordering of areas…

The theatre, on the corner of Lord Street and Kingsway, is built of brick with dressings of Portland stone and concrete. There are shops at ground level, above which there are tall windows, decorated with bands of an Art Deco design; above the curved corner there are fluted stone pilasters. On Lord Street to the left of the entrance there is a colonnade above the first floor with an open promenade.