The Halifax Thespians society was founded in October 1927. The first production was at the former Theatre Royal in Halifax. They later played at the Marlborough Hall (now the YMCA), and from 1931 performed regularly at the Alexander Hall.

During the war (1935~1945) they produced 3 or 4 plays each year at the former Heath school (Heath Grammar School for Boys). The society had been looking for a place of its own before the war. In 1943 the opportunity arose when the final service was held at the Hanover Methodist Chapel. In 1945 the Thespians were able to purchase the building for ?2,500, and expected to pay ?10,000 for conversion and equipment.

In 1946 the Thespians moved into the building. The vestry (now the foyer) was used for rehearsals. The room downstairs was used for meetings, wardrobe, and a kitchen. This is now the bar. An interesting feature of the foyer is the box office, which had been the pay office at John Crossley's Dean Clough Mills in Halifax.

Much of the work to form a theatre from the chapel was carried out by the members as labour and materials were in short supply at the end of the war.

THE AUDITORIUM  
   
The seating capacity is 273. The seats are the original ones from 1949 but were refurbished in 1984. The names on the seats are the first donors in 1949 and then those in 1984.

THE STAGE

A conventional proscenium frames the acting area; the arch is 26 feet wide and the stage is 18 feet from front to back. Cloths and scenery can be flown out of sight. There are two lighting bars above the stage and a spot bar is on the house side of the curtain. Lighting and sound are operated from the control room above the alcove at the rear of the auditorium.
The scenery dock below the stage is to store scenery and timber. Building is done on stage, but some construction takes place here.

There are dressing rooms downstairs for changing and hanging of costumes during a production.

NEW ACCOMODATION
   
A major development took place in 1995 with construction of the Hanover Street entrance, with a ramp and easygoing steps to enable people with mobility problems and of course wheelchairs to access the theatre. This followed a period of intense fund-raising and was also made possible by grants from the Sports & Arts Foundation, Access for the disabled, Calderdale Council, and many local firms. The coffee lounge and the properties room are located beneath the entrance ramp.

THE BAR

A covenant between the Thespian trustees and the trustees of the chapel when the premises transferred precluded the sale of alcohol on the premises. In 1977 all surviving parties to the covenant agreed to the setting up of a bar. The revenue from the bar enables us to update the facilities for the benefit of the members and public.

source: http://www.halifaxplayhouse.org.uk/