Today is the last day of the A to Z blogging challenge. I’ve enjoyed my theatre theme more than I anticipated, probably because it’s a subject I know little about in comparison to my previous ones. I hope you have enjoyed them too and thank you for visiting my blog.
I kept the focus of my posts on the theatres themselves, rather than the craft of acting and associated skills. In doing so, I’ve given buildings and architects prominence. However, the theatre is far more than a stage and audorium, it isn’t one place or a sole industry, and there is no requirement to be a professional. We all play charades at one time or another in our homes, our schools put on nativity plays and end of year productions. Local operatic and dramatic societies might hanker for a big stage, but they make do with village and church halls.
The theatre is about community, its purpose to entertain and inform, and for those who endeavour to put on a production, there’s nothing so rewarding as a round of applause.
So for Z, I’m not in a West End or grand or attractive theatre. Z-Arts is a performing arts centre near Manchester, supported by charities and fundraisers. The 230 seat theatre is a hub used to express and celebrate the imagination of the human mind through workshops, shows and art galleries.
As for the building, I’m leaving that to your imagination, but it wasn’t built by CJ Phipps or Matcham, even though it is over a hundred years old. No tiers or raked stage, no gold or velvet décor.
The centre is based in what was the congregational Church for Zion, rather appropriate for today’s letter and by the 1960s had attracted the likes of the Halle orchestra and Luciano Pavarotti as a rehearsal venue. The church passed into the hands of the council and an independent company on a long lease.
In 2000 Z-Arts opened up as the Zion Arts Centre to provide cultural activities to young people in the most challenging areas of Manchester.
It’s simply a perfect environment for a versatile group of people.
If you have enjoyed my A-Z theme, then check out the menu bar and my previous years’ themes.
Stay home and safe!
The Quiet Writer 
I have really enjoyed this and I shall be checking out some of your other subjects. More bloggers should use their menu bars!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. WordPress makes menus very easy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on completing your A to Z Challenge! I’ve enjoyed learning about British Theatre.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this excellent A to Z Challenge. I’ve loved it. Looking forward to checking out your previous themes too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you all your tweets. Most of my themes are about history, people and places.
LikeLike
A perfect conclusion to what has been an interesting and informative month. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being in the audience. Right, I’m off to the bar!
Z is for …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers and thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on completing the A-Z! I enjoyed it and learned a lot. Thanks!
(Click the Blog link on the second row) : Z is for Zany
LikeLike
Good Job, thank you for sharing this month!
LikeLike
You did a great job on the theme and it was so enjoyable to learn about the various venues and their histories. I think my favorite ones are the one with the ocean backdrop and the one with the water scenes on stage.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for all your visits and comments. I’ve already got ideas for next year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome and can’t wait to see what you come up with 🙂
LikeLike