Rosehill Theatre

The Rosehill Theatre is a former 19th-century barn and dwelling that was converted and extended in 1959 into a concert hall and theatre for Sir Nicholas Sekers, a silk manufacturer and impressario. The work was undertaken by Gavin Paterson and Son architects, with interior design by Oliver Messel, a notable theatrical designer. The building is constructed of snecked stone, with later additions in brick and timber frame, and most areas are weatherboarded. The roof is tiled.

The original barn now serves as the auditorium. Additions to one end contain the stage and backstage areas, while additions to the other end house offices and a foyer bar. A second bar, added in 1975 and linked to the former dwelling, now functions as a bistro. A later glazed porch and stairs provided access to this bar. A portico with disabled access replaced the original porte-cochere in 1996, after a redesign of the main entrance. The windows feature glazing bars in the foyer and sash windows in the office, bar, and bistro.

The foyer is lined with green silk manufactured by Sekers’ firm, West Cumberland Silks Mills, with gold cornice. The Messel scheme includes curtains at the entrance, box office, and windows, with his distinctive radiator grilles incorporated into the design. The box office front features carved balusters that match those on the open stair leading to the circle, which is situated in a corner of the foyer. The auditorium has 208 seats (originally 220) in the stalls and a small circle, with an original opera box, now used for cinema projection. The interior decoration draws inspiration from fittings salvaged from the Royal Standard Music Hall in Whitehaven, which was demolished in 1958. The proscenium arch incorporates elements from the Royal Standard's design, notably Messel’s griffon motif. The side walls are hung with red Sekers silk, accented by white cornices and a flat white ceiling. Additional features include draped 'windows' originally intended to conceal stage lights, elaborate gilded candelabra, and wall lights. The flat balcony front replaced a curved one that was lost while in storage. Three painted panels from the Royal Standard are displayed on the balcony front, with two more being stored. Candelabra devised by Messel are a feature of the foyer area. Messel’s original design sketches for the foyer and auditorium are framed and displayed in the bistro. The interior design of Rosehill represents the only permanent theatre work by Oliver Messel, whose set designs for theatre, opera, and cinema established a distinctive and widely imitated British style. It is considered a successful translation of a two-dimensional set design into a permanent building, and has been well preserved.