Pomegranate Theatre

Milestones
1879	Stephenson Memorial Hall opened as a tribute to George Stephenson.
1889	The Hall purchased by Chesterfield Corporation
31.12.46	Expiry of lease of Hall to Cinema Company
01.06.47	Public Appeal of Guarantee fund of £5,000 organised by local amateur societies.
19.02.49	Opening ceremony performed by Miss. Kathleen Harrison
21.02.49	First performance of first presentation, "See How They Run" by Philip King
17.09.51	The 100th presentation by the Resident Repertory Company, "Queen Elizabeth Slept Here". The Company then included Margaret Tyzack and John Arnatt.
08.02.54	The 200th presentation, "Hobson's Choice" was directed by Gerald Glaister with the Company including Nigel Davenport and David McCallum.
31.03.58	As a young Assistant Stage Manager, Diana Rigg made her stage debut in "The Passing of the Third Floor Back".
21.09.59	"Tunnel of Love" opened a new Repertory Season with the Company's Stage Manager/ Associate Producer - Colin McIntyre.
16.08.65	After 16 years of 'Weekly Rep', "Lady Windermere's Fan" began a new policy of each production playing for at least two weeks
1974	The death was announced of J. H. Hodkin who had reigned as Chairman of the Board since 1948.
28.03.81	"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" played to the theatre's record attendance - three weeks at an average of 98% capacity.
31.03.81	With the Borough Council's withdrawal of the lease from Chesterfield Civic Theatre Ltd, Repertory Seasons came to an end.
16.12.81	Chesterfield Borough Council, as sole producers, opened its one and only production, the Christmas Show "Rock Star".
06.02.82	Chesterfield Theatre Limited came into being with its policy of housing incoming touring companies instead of a Repertory Company mounting its own productions.
10.06.82	The Civic Theatre became the Pomegranate Theatre
22.02.88	To open the 40th year of operation, the theatre repeated the first ever play "See How They Run".
20.02.89	40 years completed with the theatre's most successful play, Agatha Christie's "Verdict".
27.05.89	Theatre closed for its first-ever major structural repairs.
08.93	Ramps constructed at theatre entrance and in foyer to improve access facilities. Adapted toilets to the rear of the auditorium to be shared with Chesterfield's new museum situated in the other half of the Stephenson Memorial Hall. Wheelchair lift installed to allow access to the Box Office and bar area.
01.94	Theatre re-seated over a three-week period after pantomime.
09.94	Derek Coleman retired after 31 years as Manager
01.95	Bar Area redecorated to provide exhibition space for local artists
04.97	Administration of Theatre and Museum joined as part of the new Arts Section headed by the Borough Arts Manager
02.99	Gala presentation of “Thanks for the Memory”, produced by former Artistic Director Colin McIntyre, opened the Season celebrating 50 years of civic theatre in Chesterfield
07.00	The manual Box Office procedures were replaced by Databox, a computerised ticketing system, finally making obsolete the complex use of paper plans and coloured pencils.
08.01	Ticket selling operations reverted temporarily to their former home, under the stairs, during the re-construction of the Box Office to reflect the change of operation.
03.02	The first Pomegranate New Playwright’s Festival takes place, performing 14 new works in 5 days.
08.03	Bar adapted to provide a performance space for the growing “Arts in the Bar” strand.
05.04	“Angels Never Leave Heaven” becomes the first in-house production at the theatre since 1981.
09.04	“Chesterfield Tales”, the theatre’s contribution to the Chesterfield Market Festival, a new piece written by members of the New Playwright’s group, celebrates 900 years of the town’s history.
05.05	The Box Office is re-sited in the foyer giving better access to wheelchair users and providing more space for cashiers.
07.06	A production of “Taming of the Shrew” by Oddsocks Theatre Company marks the start of Pomegranate in the Park, a joint venture with the newly refurbished Queen’s Park.
12.06	A fully integrated production of Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” using one hearing and one deaf actress opens live theatre up to a new audience
06.07	Theatre celebrates 25 years as The Pomegranate
09.07	Peter Sallis returns to the theatre for the first time since he was a member of the inaugural repertory company in 1949