Friends celebrate anniversary of Art Deco theatre (From Knutsford Guardian)

Friends celebrate anniversary of Art Deco theatre

9:00am Saturday 29th September 2012 in News

FRIENDS of Tabley and their guests will be heading to Stockport at the beginning of next month to celebrate the anniversary of one of the town’s greatest buildings.

Two committee members from the Friends recently visited the restored Plaza – an Art Deco building in Stockport.

Built in 1932 as the Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre, it later followed the well-trodden path to bingo hall and nightclub.

Finally – and at the last minute – it was saved from demolition in 1999 by a dedicated group of people who got grade two listing for the building.

Over the next few years, with a handful of paid staff and a team of volunteers, they raised the staggering sum of £3 million for the first stage of restoration.

Today the Plaza again operates as a cinema and variety theatre, run almost entirely by volunteers.

On October 1, the Plaza celebrates its 80th anniversary, and Tabley Friends and guests can be there.

There will be a talk at 11am about its history and design, a tour of the beautiful and fabulously-lit interior, including the mighty Compton organ rising from the depths in true 1930s style.

Afterwards, there will be a snack lunch of soup and sandwiches.

After lunch, there will be time to look at some special exhibition material and still have time to beat the rush-hour home.

This is also the Tabley Friends first ‘day-out without a coach’ experiment, to cut out the increasingly costly hiring of coaches. Directions and maps will be provided for drivers, walkers and train users.

The Plaza is only five minutes walk from either the railway station or the car-park.

The cost will be £18 for Friends and £20 for guests, from Anna Smyth on 01565 651979 or anna.smyth@ntlworld.com.