Webinar exploring how to first test for, then maintain, re-engage, and even grow audiences during theatre capital projects and other major changes. www.artsprofessional.co.uk/event/capita...

Delighted to be presenting at the British Silent Film Festival Symposium on 10 April. First time giving a paper here - and so pleased to have snuck in the rival medium with 'British television and the end times of silent cinema, 1928-1930'; details and tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/british-si...

The 3 #victorian incarnations of #Scarborough Spa as seen in paintings on display at Scarborough Art Gallery. First the Gothic Saloon by Henry Wyatt of 1839, then the music hall & observation tower of 1858 by Joseph Paxton & George Stokes, finally the current building by Verity and Hunt opened 1878

New job #ad: Development Manager, English Touring Opera Ltd, Sheffield/Hybrid. Salary: £30,000 - 35,000. #artsjobs

Belfast’s @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social looked incredible for our launch night. The exhibition is open to the public from the 6th until 18th Feb. If you're in town, come see how we’re supporting heritage across the UK. Don’t miss the start of the tour! #Architecture #Heritage #Belfast

As well as one-to-one advice, our expert Gurus are running a trio of no-nonsense sessions at our Venues Day - covering everything from financial strategy and landlord issues to licensing and noise.

We like to give people authentic experiences @archhfund.org.uk of out of use historic buildings, so lovely to see so many people & supporters turning out at a slightly chilly Riddel's Warehouse in Belfast last night for the launch of our 50th exhibition. It looks spot on & is here until 18th Feb!

My first post of 2026 is a theater buried in scaffolding. I photographed it almost ten years ago, which should give you a sense of how deep the After the Final Curtain backlog runs. This is the Columbia Theatre in Sharon, Pennsylvania, documented while restoration stalled. Link in bio.

Venues Day returns this year, on 17 March, with a renewed focus on delivery, skills and long-term sustainability. 🎟️ General tickets are now available via bit.ly/VenuesDay26

Some good news from @salfordvictoria.bsky.social 🎉 With our support, the group has successfully applied to @archhfund.org.uk for a project viability grant and has registered as a charity Significant steps towards bringing this theatre back into use www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

When we first talked about buying the freeholds to grassroots music venues, some people laughed. Some said it was impossible. But guess what? We’ve done it with #OwnOurVenues.

🎭 In the Limelight Talk: The Story of Showtown 📅 Tuesday 20 Jan 2026 ⏰ 2pm @jillc86.bsky.social Exhibitions Manager at Blackpool’s Showtown, shares how the museum was created & the stories behind its galleries ✨ 1st talk in our new venue. Book here www.ticketsource.co.uk/bookings/evt...

'The Cinema', Warren Street (1920) by William Patrick Roberts (Tate Britain)

I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.

magnificent contemporary illustration (1860) of Covent Garden's new Floral Hall in the NE corner of square, if you've ever wondered about the wider context to the Bow Street end (London Encyclopedia tells me that the dome bit was burnt down in 1956)

A new film, on Pugin's wondrous St Giles, Cheadle. heni.com/talks/inside...

Mother Mary's opened in June 2024, with bold ambitions to augment Manchester's rich grassroots live music scene and a commitment to inclusive, diverse and passionate programming.

The Varieties (Variety Theatre or Harwood’s Hall) in Pitfield Street, Hoxton, a short distance from Shoreditch church, was built in 1869 behind the White Horse pub. It was designed by the leading theatre architect, C. J. Phipps, who probably devoted more attention to the pub facade t

…as part of our support for the House Of Commons CMS select committee fan led review of live and electronic music, recorded live in Glasgow, hosted by Arusa Qureshi, featuring Mike Grieve (MD Sub Club / Chair NTIA Scotland), Katie Duffy (Head of arts and Music, Glasgow Life), JJ (Exit), and Finlay.

Watch the full discussion from a recent panel now on our YouTube at youtu.be/z5HaSs13pUc

Positive news for Rothesay Pavilion! The A-listed gem is approaching the final stages of a long restoration and will reopen in 2027 as a vibrant hub for the community, visitors, and creatives. We are pleased to have provided a #HESsupported grant to this project. www.scotsman.com/heritage-and...

There’s nothing like a night at Hackney Empire!💛 Whether you’re visiting us for comedy, live music, opera, inspiring community events, or our legendary pantomime, every show brings people together. Come and find your something at Hackney Empire, https://youtu.be/y_jRc8noILI

Mark Fox presenting at the London Archives today. A superb day of talks about British Music Hall.

I had a great day @thelondonarchives.bsky.social yesterday talking unrideable mules🐴 (yes! really!) at the Clapham Grand, and listening to some excellent talks from @roadsw9.bsky.social @naomipaxton.bsky.social Tony Fletcher, Jane Pritchard, Wanda Robins, Mark Fox, Alison Boulton and Meera Flynn.

Applications are now open for Manchester’s £245,000 Grassroots Music Venue Fund... and we’re working to get the money into venues’ hands as quickly as possible. ➤ Applications (and more info) now open via bit.ly/ManchesterFund ➤ Deadline: Friday 28th November ➤ Payments issued by end of January

Been researching seaside Floral Halls, a type of concert hall inspired by the Floral Hall next to the Royal Opera House. Designed by EM Barry, it originally combined a concert venue & flower market. Happened to be in Covent Garden today and a lovely volunteer let me see inside

You don’t get the future of music if you keep shutting the door on its beginning. Support your local venue, scene, community, and keep in touch with all things MVT at www.MusicVenueTrust.com

Every movement started in a small room somewhere. Sometimes underfunded and misunderstood. But that’s how roots grow. That’s how scenes start. That’s how heroes are formed. That's what keeps every single one of us at MVT, and all our members, motivated in protecting.

Budapest Opera House today with the Frank Matcham Society

Don’t forget to book - free and open to all - via Ticketsource

Tomorrow I'm speaking at a conference about Victorian and Edwardian Sussex which gives me the chance to talk about #piers and Kursaals - a form of entertainment pavilion inspired by Continental spa towns. Here are the Kursaals at Bognor, Bexhill & Worthing www.sussexarchaeology.org/victorianedw...

Don’t miss this opportunity to find out about the European Route of Historic Theatres

EUROPEAN ROUTE OF HISTORIC THEATRES - Sat 25 Oct 2025 2pm - FREE at V&A Lydia&ManfredGorvey LectureTheatreSW7 2RL Mark Fox explains the Route’s genesis (120 theatres across 30 countries) current status and future plans. Book in advance www.ticketsource.co.uk (search Frank Matcham Society)

Two fantastic #BMHS events this October! 🎭 📚 Archive on Show @ Lambeth Archives – Thu 9 Oct, 2pm 🎤 Kirsty Roberts Talk @ The Water Rats – Tue 21 Oct, 7pm (celebrating Black performers in Morecambe’s history) 📖 Book here: britishmusichallsociety.com/events

The wonderful Tyne Theatre and Opera House celebrates its birthday today, having first opened on this day in 1867 🎂 The auditorium structure remains the same as when it was first built and is one of the finest of its period. 📸 Ian Grundy

Anyone else notice the fabulous foyer of Soho Theatre Walthamstow, site of a recent @frankmatchamsoc.bsky.social guided tour, featured on the first episode of this year's Strictly Come Dancing where contestants met their professional dancing partners and sashayed down those glamorous stairs?

#SheffieldIsSuper #Sheffield A chance for a guided tour of the Abbeydale Picture House on 21 September - part of Heritage Open Days.

Chance to tour the interiors of some amazing & at risk UK theatre buildings thanks to the Theatres Trust 🎭 www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

Congratulations to HOME and Jon Matthews Architects for winning @news.architectsjournal.co.uk Retrofit & Reuse Award for Adaptive Reuse for the fantastic HOME Arches project We were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the space last year as part of our conference #RetroFirst

Fantastic to see Citizens Theatre in Glasgow reopened 🎉 It is a major project in which Theatres Trust has been closely involved over the past decade, including an Advisory review, planning application support and two small but significant grants www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

Edmund Yates checks out the audience at the Alhambra Music Hall, Leicester Square, in 1867

Man, the timing of this: so sad. But what a legacy: brilliant theatre everyone could afford.

How Libraries Stand the Test of Time The digital era builds upon millennia of librarianship as humans strive to preserve our cultural heritage. By: Maria Papadouris daily.jstor.org/how-librarie... Libraries at PG: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subje... #books #libraries

We’re thrilled to announce that Chris Sudworth has been appointed as the new CEO of Hackney Empire, starting in January 2026. Chris will join us from his role as Creative Director at Birmingham Hippodrome. Read the full story here: www.hackneyempire.co.uk/news/chris-sudworth-appointed-ceo

As proud participants in Open House for over 23 years, we invite you to explore the rich history and stunning architecture of our almost 125- year-old building this September! Book your guided tour or drop in between 10am - 1pm, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/open-house-2025

Today I visited Kings Theatre, Southsea, with the Portsmouth Urban Sketching group. Some of them appear in my sketch from the dress circle. Sailor fude fountain pen in A4 sketchbook.

Ceiling & balconies of The Kings Theatre in #Southsea, built by theatre designer Frank Matcham, it opened in 1907 #CeilingsOnSunday

For @thequietus.com, Dan McCarthy explores how the century-old tradition of member-owned social clubs is offering a future for grassroots music venues - and how Music Venue Properties is scaling that model nationwide.

We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Lane, founder and first Artistic Director of the Traverse. Terry built the theatre in 1962 and helped shape its bold spirit and commitment to new writing. We’re deeply thankful for his vision and legacy.

Want to know more about what we do? Then please join us at our next Campaign Meeting on 8:00pm on Wednesday 27th August. Details on how to join us on Zoom are here: https://streathamhilltheatre.org/events