Restoration Update – 12.07.13

Inspection works began this week on the left and right hand side our circle seating area in advance of the major works which commence a month from today on the 12th August to remove the ‘new’ circle which was installed we believe in 1937.

Having consulted with cinema historians the thought is that the gradient of the tiered seating in the Circle was more in line with a theatrical seating layout, which in light of new Super Cinemas being opened such as The Carlton/Essoldo directly behind the Plaza which was built in 1937 and had a more gradual ‘cinema’ rake, the management would have wanted to convert The Plaza to keep up with its more modern competitors.

The removal of the seating tiers will mean the architectural integrity of the original design of The Plaza will be restored, sightlines towards and from the stage will be improved and the full height access doors that lead behind the leaded glass windows inside the auditorium will finally be revealed after 70 years of being hidden away under the surround edge of the Circle. This final image was taken on the opening day of The Plaza in 1932 showing how the circle will look once restored and also shows the revealed doorway at the front of the circle.