The Brixham Theatreand the actor John Slater (1916–1975)

The Brixham Theatre

The upper room of the Town Hall was originally licensed as a public room which over many decades has been used for a variety of purposes, including a drill hall for the Artillery Volunteers and Royal Naval Reserve Battery. Although it is recorded that up to eight hundred persons might be accommodated at the venue this seems unlikely; what is not in doubt is that by the time of the major refurbishment in 1973, up to date regulations regarding fire and health and safety ensured the number of persons and seats allowed in the hall was reduced to three hundred and eighty six.

Over the years the public hall and theatre has been home to the Brixham Operatic and Dramatic Society (BOADS), who have performed many highly successful productions here, including "The Vagabond King", "South Pacific", "Oklahoma" and "Carousel". The earliest productions had to be performed in what was a far from perfect environment, until in 1972 the Council agreed to a major refurbishment. This, together with the continuing commitment of the BOADS, so impressed local resident John Slater that he, at his own expense, agreed to arrange for a repertory company to annually cover the summer season.

By 1990 Torbay Council was again seeking to close this and their other theatres in Torbay, as their hope of attracting more highly reputable quality shows failed to materialise; fortunately the Town Hall and theatre survived. With the financial viability of the building still threatening closure in 2007, a Friends of Brixham Theatre group was formed to monitor and protect this quite unique building, and perhaps help find a way to supplement its use as a theatre by creating an arts centre, cinema or similar.

John Slater

He successfully purchased a lease from Torbay Council for three summer shows at Brixham Theatre in 1972, and during 1973 he staged his first show, "Wanted One Body", which he both produced and starred in. Then, in his second season, he performed in "Reluctant Heroes", after which his health problems returned to haunt him. His last appearance on stage came as a guest of the "This is Your Life" television programme. Then, having suffered a further heart attack in October 1974, he was re-admitted to Harefield Hospital for a pacemaker to be fitted. Sadly, just weeks later, on 9th January 1975, John B Slater died.

The fact that John had lived to re-establish the Brixham Theatre was little short of a miracle, as he and his wife Betty had already had a very close brush with death in 1946. They had been two of only four people to survive an air crash which claimed twenty one of their fellow passengers and crew, after their Dakota aircraft was forced to crash-land. John had been lucky indeed to be thrown clear of the fuselage, and although seriously injured he went back to rescue his wife, who was badly burned in the crash; as they crawled away they amazingly survived the explosion when the plane's fuel tanks caught fire.

John's tenure of the theatre was controversial, especially after he issued a warning in 1973 that he might not stage another show if the Council continued to ignore his request to carry out some urgently needed improvements. However, it was the inadequate car parking facilities that ultimately restricted audiences being attracted to the venue, although Torbay Council did heed John's wish by further modifying the raked seating in the auditorium and undertaking various improvements in 1974.

On hearing of the respected artiste's death, Shaun Sutton, head of BBC Television drama, paid tribute to his memory, saying, "Slater was an actor of high talent and a man of personal courage. For the last years of his life he suffered considerable heart trouble, but refused to let this interfere with his work. He remained active almost to the end. His professional life was extraordinarily full, covering hundreds of films, television and stage plays. He will be missed by thousands of friends throughout the theatrical world."

Today, John's entrepreneurial spirit still lives on, in spite of the most recent threats to close the theatre in 1990 and 2007. A bust of him, supplied and unveiled by Betty Slater as a memorial to the Theatre, still sits proudly at its inner doors, as if to remind visitors that he continues to watch over events as they unfold.

The Town Hall

The site for Brixham's new Town Hall was given by a Mr H W Nelson JP of Hendon, London, in March 1882, at which time the proposed complex was estimated to cost about £3,500. Designed and built by the still young architect George Bridgman of Torquay, in the Palladian style, the outer walls were constructed using limestone from Torquay's Barton quarry, with the dressings and outer mouldings using Bath stone and white brick from Chudleigh.

The new Public Hall and Market was officially opened on 1st October 1886, when a procession of local people, to the sounds of bands and with flying colours, walked from the new Hall to the old fish market at the quay, to witness the closure of the old market. The new building, with its market and a magistrates' room on the ground floor, encompassed numerous rooms for use by the District Councillors, the School Board and the Harbour Commissioners. The first threat of closure came as early as 1968, with the impending changeover in Torbay to County Borough status; however the building survived, and modifications included the Scala Hall being separated within the building.

With the Justices' offices vacated, an Information Bureau and a Rates Office were opened on the ground floor. Other occupants of the building included the Brixham Does Care, W.R.V.S. and C.A.B. institutions. The building was rewired and a new central heating system installed, at which time the Town Hall's first floor public hall was set out in theatre style. With the building suitable for a variety of uses, the Public Hall is now a permanent home to the local operatic society.

Torbay Civic Society express their appreciation to the Town Council for confirming its sponsorship of a Blue Plaque scheme in Brixham, and to Mrs B. Slater and The Trevor George Entertainments Company for their support of this first plaque.