insideKENT Magazine Issue 70 - January 2018 | Page 41
TOWNSPOTLIGHT
THE WOODVILLE: 50 years of arts in Gravesend
WHAT HAVE WILL SMITH, DANIEL CRAIG, CATHERINE TATE AND THE WOODVILLE
ALL GOT IN COMMON? THEY HAVE ALL STARRED IN LANDMARK FILM FRANCHISES?
NEARLY. THEY ALL LOOK CUTE IN A PAIR OF BUDGIE SMUGGLERS? SO CLOSE!
UNBELIEVABLY, THEY ARE ALL TURNING 50 IN 2018 AND GRAVESEND’S ICONIC
LANDMARK THEATRE HASN’T EVEN HAD A FACELIFT...NOT THAT THEY’RE
SUGGESTING WILL, DANIEL AND CATHERINE HAVE!
The Woodville was officially opened on Friday
15th November 1968 by Her Royal Highness,
The Duchess of Kent. It was designed by
architects, H.T Cadbury-Brown and Partners,
who were followers of the modernist school
of architecture and heavily influenced by the
work of Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. The
building was state-of-the-art at the time and
was truly multi-purpose and able to offer a
gamut of events f rom pantomime to
weddings, ballroom dancing to boxing and,
of course, theatre.
In the intervening years, the Blake Gallery, the
Paul Greengrass Cinema and Studio Theatre
have all been added to the great range of
creative opportunities that exist within the
building on Community Square.
To celebrate all things Woodville, they’re
planning an entire year of events and parties,
so that all of their patrons and partners can
join in with them marking 50 years of fantastic
arts and entertainment.
To name but some, they’re offering 50 babies
born in 2018 unlimited theatre and cinema
tickets until they are 18 years old, in addition
to a specially created Woodville Baby Box. For
the creative amongst you, they’re running a
year-long review competition. But, here’s the
twist, you have to review a show you have
seen at the Woodville in 50 words or less and
post it on Twitter with the hashatg
#woodville50.
In true Willy Wonka style, they’re offering
‘Golden Tickets’ at selected shows. These
tickets will be hidden underneath specific seats
and the lucky winners can expect some really
special prizes, from drinks at the bar to free
tickets to other shows and events. There may
even be opportunities to win a meet and greet
with a favourite star when they visit Gravesend.
In addition to the prizes and giveaways
planned, they have asked the supremely funny
and very talented acapella singing group, Sons
of Pitches, to record their version of the song
that was number one on the day that the
Woodville opened – yes, ‘The Good, The Bad
and The Ugly’ will be given the SoP treatment
and they’ll be asking all of their celebrity guests
throughout the year to add their versions to a
montage that will be built upon throughout
the year.
Of course, no theatre year would be complete
without a pantomime to finish it off. The first
panto staged at the Woodville was Mother
Goose, and the theatre is delighted that they
will be giving this show a well deserved 2018
makeover, bringing their 50th birthday
celebrations to a fantastic finale! Oh yes they
will! What a year! For more info, please visit
www.woodville.co.uk.
The Woodville
Woodville Place
Gravesend
Kent DA12 1DD
01474 337 459
[email protected]
www.woodville.co.uk
TheWoodville
WoodvilleGravesend
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