Wyvern Theatre

51.558°N 1.783°W / 51.558; -1.783

Wyvern Theatre
AddressSwindon
England
Capacity635
Construction
Opened7 September 1971 (1971-09-07)
Reopened25 September 2007
Website
swindontheatres.co.uk

The Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, opened in 1971.

It is managed on behalf of Swindon Borough Council by Trafalgar Entertainment.[1] The auditorium has 635 seats, all designed to be within 70 feet from the stage.[2]

History

The theatre was built in 1968–71 by Casson, Conder and Partner as part of Swindon Civic Centre.[3] It is named after the mythical wyvern which was once the emblem of the kings of Wessex.

The building was opened on 7 September 1971 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The first performance was by a Ukrainian dance company.[4]

On 3 September 2006, it closed temporarily after the discovery of traces of asbestos in the venue's offices and roof void during a routine inspection. It remained closed until September 2007 and the opportunity was taken to refurbish the venue, bringing new decor, bars, cafés, disabled entrances and new seating costing £1.3 million. The first performance afterwards was on 25 September 2007.[5]

Management companies
  • 1971–1994 – Wyvern Arts Trust Ltd
  • 1994–2001 – Apollo Leisure – General Manager Ted Doan
  • 2001–02 – SFX Venues – General Manager Ted Doan
  • 2002–05 – Clear Channel Entertainment – General Manager Ted Doan, Andrew Lister
  • 2005–07 – Hetherington Seelig Theatres Ltd. – General Manager Nick Shaw, Darren Edwards, Andrew Hill
  • From 2007: HQ Theatres, a joint venture between H.S.T Ltd and Qdos Entertainment – Theatre Director Derek Aldridge, Robert Miles, Laura James

Pantomimes
  • 1971/72 – Dick Whittington and His Cat
  • 1972/73 – Cinderella starring Howell Evans and Sue Holderness
  • 1973/74 – Dick Whittington starring Ian Lavender and Helen Shapiro
  • 1974/75 – Aladdin
  • 1975/76 – Mother Goose starring Patsy Blower
  • 1976/77 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • 1977/78 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Tony Brandon
  • 1978/79 – Cinderella
  • 1979/80 – Jack and the Beanstalk
  • 1981/82 – Aladdin starring Bernie Winters and Tim Swinton, Jackie Pallo, Jimmy Thompson and Anne Sidney
  • 1982/83 – Babes in the Wood Starring Jess Conrad (Robin Hood) & Norman Vaughan (Merry Norman)
  • 1984/85 – Cinderella starring Sheila Harrod (Dandini) Roger Dean (Ugly Sister Ruby) Don Crann (Ugly Sister Sal) and April Walker (Prince Charming)
  • 1985/86 – Aladdin starring David Griffin (Wishee Washee) & Don Crann (Widow Twanky)
  • 1986/87 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Johnny Ball
  • 1987/88 – Babes in the Wood starring Peter Duncan (Silly Billy) & Bruce Montague (Sheriff of Nottingham) & Pollyann Tanner (Maid Marion)
  • 1988/89 – Dick Whittington starring Andrew O'Connor (Idle Jack), Michael Groth (Dick Whittington) & Peter Denyer (King Rat)
  • 1989/90 – Mother Goose – Starring Adam Woodyatt (Silly Billy) and Chris Harris with Terry Hall and Lenny the Lion
    Adam Woodyatt and Lenny the Lion Wyvern Panto Flyer
  • 1990/91 – Aladdin – Starring Floella Benjamin (Aladdin) and Bobby Gee
    Floella Benjamin Wyvern Panto Flyer
  • 1991/92 – Cinderella – Starring Matthew Kelly (Buttons)
  • 1992/93 – Jack and the Beanstalk – Starring Trevor Bannister (Dame Trott) Mark Franklin (Jack) Hugo Myatt (Igor the Henchman) & Scarlott O'Neal (Jill)
  • 1993/94 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Starring Brian Hibbard (Herman the Henchman) Dave Lynn (Queen Morgiana) & Danielle Carson (Snow White) & Pollyann Tanner (Fairy Godmother)
  • 1994/95 – Dick Whittington – Starring Jimmy Cricket
  • 1995/96 – Aladdin – Starring Timmy Mallett (Aladdin)
  • 1996/97 – Cinderella – Starring Jess Conrad as Prince Charming and Bernie Clifton as Buttons
  • 1997/98 – Babes in the Wood – (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Paul Leyshon (Robin Hood), Hugo Myatt (the Sheriff of Nottingham) and the Roly Polys as the Merry Men
  • 1998/99 – Jack and the Beanstalk – (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Colin Baker (Dame Durden). With Rod, Jane and Freddy
  • 1999/2000 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Jacinta Stapleton (Neighbours' Amy Greenwood) as Snow White and Paul Ladlow as the Wicked Queen. Also featured Mike McCabe and Sandy Martin (BBC Radio Swindon).
    Jacinta Stapleton Wyvern panto flyer
  • 2000/1 – Aladdin – (Charles Vance Productions) Starring Aleetza Wood (Home and Away's Peta Janossi) as Aladdin, Geoffrey Hinsliff (Coronation Street's Don Brennan) as Widow Twanky, Bobby Dazzler as Wishee Washee and Juliette Kaplan (Last of the Summer Wine's Pearl) as the Empress of China. Also featured Tweedy & Alexis as Ping and Pong.
  • 2001/2 – Cinderella starring Emma Willis (Cinderella), Bernie Clifton (Buttons), Pollyann Tanner (Dandini), Paul Mead (Baron Hardup)
  • 2002/3 – Dick Whittington starring Geoffrey Hayes (Simple Simon), Pollyann Tanner (Dick), Hugo Myatt (King Rat), Colin Baker (Sarah the Cook).
  • 2003/4 – Goldilocks and the Three Bears starring Vicky Binns (Goldilocks), Howard Taylor (Ringmaster), Ross Davidson (Dame Dolly), Amanda Sandow, Alfie the Alligator and Willy Wyvern
  • 2004/5 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Juliette Kaplan (Fairy), Paul Bradley (Fleshcreep), Jo Martell (Jill), Daniel Boys (Jack)
  • 2005/6 – Peter Pan starring Steven Pinder (Captain Hook), Daniel Boys (Peter Pan), Jonah Cook (John Darling), Aaron Jenkins (Michael Darling).
  • 2007/8 – Cinderella starring Britt Ekland (Fairy Godmother) and Tequila her Chihuahua & Ross Hunter
  • 2008/9 – Aladdin starring Shaun Williamson (Abanazar), Neal Andrews (Wishee Washee)
  • 2009/10 – Sleeping Beauty starring Lorraine Chase (Carabosse), Ceri-Lyn Cissone (Sleeping Beauty), Edd Post (Prince Harry)
  • 2010/11 – Peter Pan starring Paul Nicholas (Captain Hook), Richard Vincent (Peter Pan), Pearce Barron (John Darling), Thomas Snowball (Michael Darling)
  • 2011/12 – Cinderella starring Keith Chegwin (Buttons), Saskia Strallen (Cinderella), Adam King (Prince Charming), Alex Young (Fairy Godmother)
  • 2012/13 – Aladdin starring Keith Chegwin (Wishee Washee) David Ashley (Abanazar) Suzie Chard (Fairy)
  • 2013/14 – Jack and the Beanstalk starring Keith Chegwin (Silly Billy), David Ashley (Dame Trot), Jennifer Greenwood (The Fairy)
  • 2014/15 – Dick Whittinton starring Nigel Havers (King Rat), David Ashley (Sarah the Cook), Lucy Kane (Alice Fitzwarren)
  • 2015/16 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Adam Woodyatt (Chambers) & David Ashley (Nurse Nelly)
  • 2016/17 – Cinderella starring Ryan Thomas and David Ashley
  • 2017/18 – Peter Pan starring Adam Woodyatt
  • 2018/19 – Aladdin starring Adam Woodyatt
  • 2019/20 – Sleeping Beauty starring Michelle Collins and Adam Woodyatt
  • 2020/21 – No pantomime due to COVID-19
  • 2021/22 – Jack and the Beanstalk
  • 2022/23 – Beauty and the Beast starring Anne Hegerty

Behind the scenes
  • Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08
    Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08
  • Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08
    Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08
  • Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08
    Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08
  • Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08
    Backstage at the Wyvern Theatre 11/10/08

Awards
  • 2015 – The Wyvern Theatre was awarded the Venue of the Year Award at the annual HQ Theatre awards
  • 2016 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
  • 2017 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
  • 2017 – UK Theatre's Most Welcoming Venue in the South West
  • 2017 – Muddy Stilettos Best Theatre in the South West
  • 2018 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
  • 2019 – Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
  • 2020 – Not won due to COVID-19
  • 2021 – Not won due to COVID-19

Summer Youth Project

Mascot

Over the years The Wyvern Theatre has had its own mascot in the form of a 6-foot-high green dragon-like creature known as Willy the Wyvern.

Willy the Wyvern became the theatre's mascot originally during its founding years but faded into obscurity for over two decades. In 2001, Willy was reborn and returned to the Wyvern theatre with a new look and a new lease of life just in time to celebrate its 30th anniversary. He has now seemingly gone into retirement making rare appearances, the last being in the 2013 Summer Youth Project

References
  1. Hill, Liz (31 March 2021). "Trafalgar Entertainment acquires HQ Theatres". Arts Professional.
  2. About Us – Wyverntheatre.org.uk
  3. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (1975). The Buildings of England, volume 26, Wiltshire (2 ed.). Yale University Press. p. 510. ISBN 9780300096590. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. "Theatre marks a dramatic 40 years". Swindon Advertiser. 10 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  5. "Theatre opens for public viewings". BBC News. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
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