We will learn to love Theatre Severn

AH, THE SMELL OF THE GREASEPAINT, the roar of the crowd. Or was it the roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd? Something like that, anyway.

That’s what they always used to say when evoking the intoxicating atmosphere of the theatre.

Well, of course there are roars and then there are roars – those that are welcome (as in applause), those that are not so welcome (as in cries of criticism and frustration).

Now, as far as Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn is concerned, there may not have been exactly a roar of disapproval since its opening in March 2009, but I think it’s fair to say there has been a steady rumbling of disappointment.

A couple of excellent letters published in this newspaper recently, summed up the situation rather well.

“The design, the site, and in particular the programme have all come in for a great deal of criticism,” wrote Caroline Thewles of Cherry Orchard.

I myself have heard many people moan about the design of the building. Firstly, it is not the prettiest of structures, is it? And in such a beautiful town as ours, you would have thought they could have come up with a more sympathetic design.

It strikes me that they used just about every building material known to man to put this place together – bricks, concrete, timber, glass, steel, Weetabix . . . you name it.

Was it that the builders kept running out of one material and so had to move on to the next? How long would it have been before they turned to Lego? It does look like the most awful hotchpotch.

That’s the exterior. What about the interior?

Well, my first couple of visits – to see a rather fine Electric Light Orchestra tribute band and, later, the heart-breakingly brilliant singer songwriter, Beth Nielsen Chapman – left me feeling there simply wasn’t enough leg room between the rows of seats.

I’m tall with long legs and I need to move around a bit.

However, a more recent visit (to see The Hollies) gave me an entirely different impression. On this occasion I did have enough leg room. So maybe it’s all down to exactly where in the theatre you sit.

Another issue – and one that will not be solved so easily – is this: Did we really need two theatres on this site (ie: Theatre Severn itself and then its very own smaller auditorium, The Walker Theatre) when maybe just one big theatre would have been better?

Now this really is a hot potato. It’s often been said that one larger theatre would have brought “bigger and better” artists and theatre companies to the county town. Critics insist that making room for the Walker auditorium compromised the size of the main theatre – leading to a missed opportunity.

The site? Well, the idea of riverside venue is rather romantic, and when it’s all lit up at night it looks a heck of a lot better than it does in daylight.

On the other hand, when plans for a new theatre for Shrewsbury were being drawn up a decade ago, they were seriously considering the site once occupied by the much-hated (and subsequently demolished) towerblock – Telephone House on Smithfield Road. Telephone House, by the way, was surely the least Shrewsbury-ish building in Shrewsbury!

This might have been a good place for the new venue, but (at the risk of infuriating many a Frankwellian), the Frankwell site does not offend me.

Arguments about the quality of the programme offered will rumble on, no doubt. But it is hard to see how a theatre of this size is ever going to break through the “tribute bands and stand-up comedians” barrier.

But, do you know what? In spite of all my reservations, I think I am slowly learning to love Theatre Severn. It most certainly was not love at first sight. It did not sweep me off me feet. But whenever I step inside the place, I enjoy the experience. Perhaps it is going to take a little while to work its way into our affections. But it’ll get there.

Meanwhile, another correspondent, Geoff Fitchett, suggested that anyone who wishes to have access to otherwise sold-out shows should join the Friends of Theatre Severn.

Now, maybe that’s not such a bad idea. Surely, Theatre Severn – successful in many ways, but still coming in for some stick – needs all the friends it can get.