“Roll up! Roll up! ladeez and gentlemen, please. Take your seats for a night at the theatre” must be a cry that has echoed many times down the centuries in Monmouth. So it is good the glittering history of entertainment in our busy little town will be explored in a talk this Friday at 7pm at the Priory Centre in Priory Street. The illustrated talk is open to the public.

Entitled “Alehouse – Playhouse – Picture House, a History of the Savoy Theatre”, it is by Juliette Cook and is based on her forthcoming book of the same name (for which she has been awarded a research grant by the Society for Theatre Research).

Appropriately, Juliette is on the staff of the Savoy. Her interest in the oldest working theatre site in Wales has been encouraged by the management.

While today’s Savoy has bounced back from the pandemic with a full programme of the latest films as well as performances on stage by groups like Monmouth Music Theatre and Off Centre Players and big-name touring entertainers, Juliette’s research has uncovered the fascinating story of theatrical and cinematic entertainment in Monmouth over the centuries including fresh discoveries from never before published sources. Her images and eyewitness testimony staff and patrons will no doubt trigger many a memory of the Monmouth Picture House. If you worked there, do come to the talk and share your memories.

Friday’s talk is the latest in the winter season of lectures put on by the town’s local history group, Monmouth Field and History Society. Membership is £10 and includes a summer season of outings and a summer party. Guests (£5) are welcome.

Above: A scene typical of the tavern/theatre/music hall entertainment you would have found at the Bell Assembly Room in Monmouth in the mid 1800s