Grand Theatre, Victorian theatre building in Clapham, United Kingdom.
The Grand Theatre is a theatre building from the Victorian era in Clapham, south London. The facade carries terracotta and stucco ornaments, while inside a stage over 20 metres wide and several tiers offer space for audiences.
The building opened in 1900 as a variety theatre, founded by four well-known stage performers of the time. Over the 20th century it shifted to a cinema, then a bingo hall, and finally to a multipurpose venue.
The name recalls its roots as a variety venue where song, comedy and sketches filled the evening program. Today the auditorium reveals its past through the tiered seating arrangement and the wide proscenium opening.
The site lies a few minutes on foot from Clapham Junction station, a major hub in south London. Events range from music to film and other performances, so checking the current program before visiting is advisable.
In this auditorium the producers filmed the first series of a British television show where contestants solve absurd tasks. Later series recreated the interior in a studio because the original rooms were not permanently available.
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