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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox Theatre
|name = The Seagull
|image = Seagull Theatre Façade.jpg
|caption = The Seagull
|address = Morton Road, [[Pakefield]]
|city = [[Lowestoft]]
|country = England, UK
|designation =
|coordinates = {{coord|52.4566|1.7357|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|architect =
|owner = B.I. Fosten
|tenant =
|operator = Hales Group
|capacity = 112
|type = Repertory
|opened = 1967
|reopened = 2007
|yearsactive =
|built = 1895
|closed = 2006
|demolished =
|othernames =
|production =
|currentuse = Active
|website = http://www.theseagull.co.uk
}}

'''The Seagull''' is a [[theatre]] and [[movie theatre|cinema]] in [[Pakefield]], a suburb of [[Lowestoft]] in [[Suffolk]], run almost entirely by volunteers from the local community. It plays host to regional and national touring theatre companies as well as films and other acts, and runs its own production company known as The Seagull Rep. The slogan for The Seagull is "Transforming the Community through the Arts".

The venue has a main auditorium seating of 112<ref name="titmus">Caesar.E [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article6921535.ece Abi Titmuss hits the stage in Macbeth]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''The Times Online'', 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref> including space for wheelchair users, as well as a recording studio, dance studio and bar. The venue also has on-site car parking.

== History ==
[[File:Seagull Theatre Auditorium.jpg|thumb|left|The auditorium during a refit (2016)]]
The building is of [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] origin and was previously the site of the Morton Road School from 1897 to 1939.<ref name="mandev">[http://www.musicandevents.co.uk/me_news/the-seagull-theatre-lowestoft/ The Seagull Theatre Lowestoft], ''Music and Events'', 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref><ref name="sospdf">[http://www.phantasmagraph.co.uk/sos/images/seagull%20(2).pdf ''Save Our Seagull: an artistic vision for the community''], Save Our Seagull. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref> It never reopened as a school after [[World War II]] and was used as an annex to [[Lowestoft College]] from 1945 as a centre for coachbuilding and engineering courses. The building was converted into a theatre in 1967 and opened as The Seagull.<ref name="mandev" /><ref name="sospdf" />

[[Suffolk County Council]], which owned the theatre, withdrew funding in 2006 as a result of budget cuts and the venue closed.<ref name="titmus" /><ref name="eadt27apr07">[http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/battle_to_save_popular_theatre_is_won_1_83321 Battle to save popular theatre is won], ''East Anglian Daily Times'', 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref><ref name="stage">Quinn.M (2007) [http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/16731/supporters-rejoice-as-lowestofts-seagull Supporters rejoice as Lowestoft’s Seagull gets £250,000 lifeline], ''The Stage'', 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref><ref name="edp25aug06">[http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/no_more_free_food_for_council_chiefs_1_691036 No more free food for council chiefs], ''Eastern Daily Press'', 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref><ref name="eastcoast">[http://www.eastcoastlive.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=1887 Seagull is flying again], ''East Coast Live'', 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref> As a result, The SOS ('Save our Seagull') Charity Trust Group was formed with patrons including actress [[Judi Dench|Dame Judi Dench]], actor [[Desmond Barrit|Des Barrit]] and regional broadcaster [[Helen McDermott]].<ref name="mandev" /><ref name="eadt27apr07" /><ref name="bbc19jan07">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/6280929.stm Dame Judi backs theatre campaign], ''BBC News website'', 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref> The campaign was also backed by author [[Louis de Bernières]].<ref name="acrotc">[http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/author_joins_outcry_over_theatre_closure_1_691528 Author Joins Outcry Over Theatre Closure], ''Eastern Daily Press'', 2006-09-09. Retrieved 2011-04-03.</ref>

In 2007 the council sold The Seagull for an estimated £250,000<ref name="eastcoast" /><ref name="eadtnov06">[http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/theatre_thrown_a_lifeline_1_77981 Theatre thrown a lifeline], ''East Anglian Daily Times'', 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref> and it was reopened in October 2007 with a gala performance by jazz singer [[Liane Carroll]].<ref name="edp26oct07">[http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/rescued_theatre_reopens_1_699803 Rescued theatre reopens], ''Eastern Daily Press'', 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref> It is currently undergoing continued renovation and has received investment in the form of new technical equipment.<ref name="eastcoast" />

A 2009 production of ''[[Macbeth]]'' featured former model [[Abi Titmuss]] as [[Lady Macbeth]],<ref name="titmus" /><ref name="titmustelegraph">Kendall.P (2009) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/6521307/Abi-Titmuss-Glamour-girl-to-Lady-Macbeth.html Abi Titmuss: Glamour girl to Lady Macbeth], ''The Telegraph'', 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref><ref name="bbc12nov09">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/suffolk/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8357000/8357133.stm From the wards to the boards], ''BBC News website'', 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref><ref name="bbc24nov09">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/suffolk/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8376000/8376407.stm Taking Macbeth to the nightclubs], ''BBC News website'', 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2011-04-02.</ref> while in 2010 singer [[Jessie Buckley]] from the BBC TV show ''[[I'd Do Anything (BBC TV series)|I'd Do Anything]]'' performed at the theatre.<ref name="iddoanything">[http://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/what-s-on/jessie_all_set_for_seagull_1_516580 Jessie all set for Seagull], ''Lowestoft Journal'', 2010-04-16 . Retrieved 2011-04-03.</ref> In 2011 folk musician [[Jez Lowe]] from [[BBC Radio 2]] did a show at the theatre,<ref name="bbcradio2">[http://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/what-s-on/oscar_wilde_classic_play_at_the_seagull_1_848651 Oscar Wilde classic play at The Seagull], ''Lowestoft Journal'', 2011-04-01 . Retrieved 2011-04-27.</ref> as did the [[comedian]] and [[folk music|folk singer]] [[Richard Digance]] in 2015.<ref>[http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Lowestoft/The-Seagull-Theatre-/Richard-Digance/12363008/ Richard Digance at the Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft (2015)]</ref>

Today the theatre hosts a varied programme of plays, concerts, charity events, films and live music shows throughout the year showcasing local talent and regional and national touring theatre companies, musicians and entertainers. In addition to the 112 seat Auditorium the theatre operates three studios for dance and acting schools, rehearsal and performance space. The theatre receives no funding except what it raises through its own activities; the staff includes two paid employees and about 50 volunteers.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Seagull Theatre Bar.jpg|The Theatre Bar
File:Seagull Theatre Studio1.jpg|A dance studio
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.theseagull.co.uk The Seagull]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seagull, The}}
[[Category:Lowestoft]]
[[Category:Theatres in Suffolk]]
[[Category:Cinemas in Suffolk]]

The Seagull (theatre) - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; reformat 1 link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#timesonline.co.uk