Weymouth Pavilion: From demolition threat to the heart of the community

THERE is the faint sound of an Etta James classic being rehearsed that greets you as you walk into Weymouth Pavilion.

The cast of Ireland’s Call, the latest show to arrive in Weymouth, is rehearsing behind closed doors, while front of house a friendly voice welcomes you, one of the many volunteers who have kept the pavilion not only alive, but thriving.

Since being taken over successfully by the community, the stage has been set at the pavilion to pour passion and soul into the cultural heart of Weymouth.

Chris Cole, marketing manager, has agreed to take us on a behind the curtain tour of the pavilion.

As a community interest company set up by Weymouth businessman Phil Say, the not-for-profit group’s main interest has been maintaining the legacy of the pavilion, and its role in entertaining local residents and visitors from across Dorset.

Chris explains a lot has changed since the 2013 takeover, starting in the Ocean Room, the building’s ball room.

He said: “We’ve spent the last year trying to improve the place as people say they love the shows but that it looks tired here.

“We wanted to refresh the pavilion, and make it brighter and more open.”

Using funds raised by booming trade, the new blue and off-white walls bring the warm feel of the seaside into the building on a winter’s day.

As we walk down the corridor with ceiling to floor windows showing views of the sea to our left, on the right, the walls are lined with an exhibition of the latest paintings and drawings by local artists from Wey-Port Friends Art Group.

Entering the ball room, new twinkling blue and white fairy lights now cover the ceiling above freshly painted neutral walls.

Chris said: “We decided to renovate this room and paint it neutral so it would be a nice backdrop for any event.

“We hold weddings here, private and corporate parties, fundraisers and over the next few weeks we have two big conferences coming.

“It brings a massive influx of business not just to us but to the town.

“Everyone at the conference will need a hotel to stay in, some shops to wander around and restaurants to eat at.”

Chris believes there is no other venue in Weymouth quite like the pavilion.

As we walk back through the foyer, we stop to chat to one of the volunteers, Janet Stockley, from Weymouth.

Janet said: “I’ve seen it go from strength to strength here and we are kept busy with lots of new customers which has been important.

“We have adorable staff who work so hard here and we get on really well.

“There is such a lovely atmosphere here which I think reflects on the customers who come too.”

Chris adds that because of the nature of the pavilion and how it was saved from demolition, there is nobody who works there who does not want to be there.

Beginning his time working at the pavilion as a volunteer, Chris explains the theatre and stage has always been part of his life.

“I’ve been coming to this theatre my whole life and to the pantos, and when an opportunity came up to help, I jumped at it, it was always really important to keep it open.”

One alternative to keeping the pavilion was going to be to knock it down and build a bigger car park.

Following a degree in television production at Bournemouth University, Chris came back to the pavilion and has been a driving force for securing top plays and performers at the venue.

He said: “We have our first West End musical coming in June, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which is really exciting.

“The best way that people can support the pavilion is to keep coming to watch the shows.

“The more people we have, the bigger the shows we attract, which then attracts even more people and even bigger acts, it’s all a snowball!”

Every penny of profit made is ploughed back into improving the venue and volunteers have been crucial for keeping the doors open.

Chris said: “We have about 50 ushering volunteers and about 70 volunteers in total who come every week.

“We really rely on the volunteers and they massively help out.

“We try to make it fun for people to come back and want to help.”

The venue tries to put something on for everyone and recently staged its first opera when the Russian State Opera performed, which was a great success.

Leaving the foyer behind, we head behind closed doors to watch Ireland’s Call rehearsing and to the top of the building to the attic, and the place they call the ‘follow spots room’.

Climbing up the stairs to the top, we have left the freshly painted walls behind with these walls tired and plaster crumbling.

It reflects the tireless effort of the staff and the hard work they put in to keep up appearances for the public, while still having some way to go.

Chris explains this is exactly why he loves theatres, and this one more so.

“I love theatres as buildings, because we have front of house as it is, and behind the scenes and the facade of the stage is just a huge melting pot of everyone running around.

“We are in entertainment because we want people to enjoy it and especially because we almost lost it, but there’s exciting things coming up.”

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