On Monday the 16th of December, 1912 The Bristol Hippodrome theatre opened its doors for the very first time with a show named: Sands o' Dee. Ever since then it has remained the Number One West Country Venue for nearly all the major touring theatre companies.
It survived the Blitz - but lost its backstage area to a devastating fire in 1948. The Front of House, however, remains pretty much the same as it was at the beginning of the 20th Century.
A huge proportion of the population (not just local) have come to the Hippodrome to be entertained, and I'm sure that I am not the only person to have precious memories of this wonderful building.
My grandmother (as a one year old child) went to see the Sands o' Dee show in 1912; I went to see my first ever Pantomime there when I was a child in the 1960s; in the late 1960s my father, Johnny Randall, started working backstage there and soon became one of its most beloved Stage Managers; in 1971, while still only 15 years old, I began working backstage. Many of my relatives (my Mother, sister and various uncles) and many of my friends have worked there, so you could say that I grew up in the place.
Thanks to my experience working on the stage at the Hippodrome (and also to the nationwide reputation of my father) I soon went on to work in many other theatres all around the world during my career which narrowly fell short of three decades.
Most of these other theatres were marvellous places, set in far-flung, exotic (and not-quite-so-exotic) locations, but none of them could come close to the Bristol Hippodrome - where I quickly learned to take pride in my work.
Ironically, it was while working backstage in the Hippodrome where I sustained my lower-back injury that would (after two-and-a-half years of agony) eventually ensue in the demise of my long career.
Despite the fact that I received only a small amount of compensation for the injury I still love the Hippodrome; I still have many friends there and, as I have friends from many different touring theatre companies, it is still a place where I can periodically catch up with them when their show comes to town.
I have really only begun to scratch the surface as regards my warm feelings about this dearly beloved theatre.
So you can imagine how much I am looking forward to seeing how the people in charge of the place decide to celebrate this truly momentous & important occasion.
My Dad taught me how to really enjoy my work during the times I was there with him and, since he sadly passed on in 2003 of cancer, I am sure that he is still in there somewhere; and I'm sure that he too would want this anniversary properly marked.
I heartily agree that there should be a celebration. I too have the fondest memories and thoughts of my 'home venue'. It was my first ever professional gig after leaving drama school and I don't think there could have been anywhere better to introduce me to the world of theatre. And no better people too come to that. I worked there at a golden time and more than any other venue, i still consider the people i worked there with as the 'beautiful people'. I was privileged to work with John and I'm quite sure he's still backstage keeping an eye on all those young whippersnappers running about the place.
ReplyDeleteThere is one more reason I hold Bristol Hippodrome in my heart; its where I met my lovely husband :)
So lets celebrate 100 years of magic on and off stage.