The Alhambra Theatre

The Alhambra Theatre in 1955

The Alhambra was built, at a cost of £20,000, in 1914 on the site of the 'Morley Street Waste'.

The name Alhambra derives from the Arabic 'KAL-EL-AT-AMBRA' meaning red domed castle.

 Originally the only advance ticket sales were for the boxes, hence the name of 'Box Office'.

The 'Retained Foyer' is the only remaining part of the original theatre's entrance.

The Stalls used to have no formal seating - only benches and chairs at the front.

The Dress Circle contains what were, at the time, the best seats in the house and is so called because you were expected to wear formal attire.

The Upper Circle is known as The Gods because of the plaster Gods holding up the ceiling.

The seating capacity of The Alhambra is 1456.  The seating style is known as Continental (no centre aisle or pillars in the stalls).

The 'Front of House' stops at the Iron / Safety Curtain, which is where the 'Back of House' starts.

Old stages used to be raked, hence the term upstaging.  Looking out from the stage into the auditorium we have Stage left / Prompt side or Stage right / Opposite prompt.

In the roof we have the drencher, which is above the grid.  Items of scenery are flown from here.

The assembly area or Green Room is usually near prompt corner and is where the actors wait for their call from the D.S.M who runs the show.

We have three star dressing rooms called Cinderella, Mother Goose and Humpty Dumpty.

Strange theatre traditions include; Never saying 'Good Luck', Don't ever whistle and never quote the 'Scottish Play'.