Beck Theatre

The Beck Theatre is a 600-seat theatre in Hayes, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It was built in 1977 at a cost of £2.5 million.

Type

The Beck is a community theatre, offering one-night concerts, drama, comedy, dance, musicals, children's shows, films, opera, pantomime, and a children's summer project.

History

The Beck Theatre was built in 1977 by Hillingdon Borough Council, with a bequest from Councillor Alfred Beck. It was purpose-built as a community-focused theatre, and is set in a parkland aspect adjoining a botanical garden (the Norman Leddy Memorial Gardens).

The Beck was one of forty buildings considered for the Royal Institute of British Architects London region award in 1978, and in 2004 won an Access Award from Hillingdon Council for its resources for disabled and elderly people.

A fund shortage threatened the theatre's future in 1984, when it was saved by a local petition. It was taken over in 1986 by impresario Charles Vance. The management contract passed then to Hetherington Seelig, followed by Apollo Leisure in 1992 (later bought out by Clear Channel Entertainment). In 2006, the Beck reverted to Hetherington Seelig in a partnership with Qdos Entertainment called HQ Theatres, which continued to run the theatre on behalf of the local council until March 2021, when HQ Theatres was acquired by Trafalgar Entertainment, who now run the theatre.

In June 1991, the theatre was the scene of an attempted IRA bombing, before a performance by the Blues and Royals band.

From June 1998 until July 1999 New York Times #1 bestseller Tony Lee worked at the theatre as their Marketing Manager.

Artists

The following is a selective list of artists to have performed at the Beck:

Transport

Buses

The 90, 195, 427, 607, H98 and U7 buses all stop at the Beck Theatre. Alight at the traffic lights at the junction of Uxbridge Road and Grange Road.

Train

The closest train station is Hayes & Harlington, which is approximately 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) away. The 90, 195 and H98 buses connect Hayes and Harlington Station and the Beck Theatre.

Tube

Uxbridge is the closest London Underground station. The 427, 607 and U7 buses connect Uxbridge station and the Beck Theatre.

External links

• Official Website
• Pantomimes at the Beck Theatre, 1981 to the present
• HQ Theatres entry
• Theatres Trust entry Theatres Trust

References