1976 - The Fire
In the late hours on 4th September 1976 came the destruction of thirty years work when fire gutted the Priory Theatre. Undaunted, the members set about the rebuilding, making great improvements to all areas, especially the back stage facilities.
In the late hours of Saturday, 4th September 1976, disaster struck the Priory Theatre. A fire tore through the building, leaving almost the entire theatre gutted. The steep hammer-beam roof collapsed, and the stage, scenery, dressing rooms and bar were all destroyed. Only the outer foyer escaped the worst of the fire.
The cause of the fire was never established. At the time, there was speculation about how it had started, but no definitive explanation was found. What was certain was the scale of the task facing the Priory members. Within just 48 hours, the Priory members had made the decision to rebuild rather than give up, beginning what would become an extraordinary two-year effort involving countless hours of work from members, friends and supporters.
The rebuilding became a remarkable example of the determination and community spirit that has always been at the heart of the Priory Theatre. Members cleared hundreds of tons of rubble, salvaged what they could, raised funds, learnt new skills and carried out much of the work themselves. Alongside the hard work came generosity from the local community and supporters of the theatre, helping to turn a devastating loss into an opportunity to create something new.
Just over two years after the fire, on Thursday 28 September 1978, the rebuilt Priory Theatre reopened its doors. From a roofless, smoking ruin, the theatre had been rebuilt largely through the efforts of its own members. The reopening marked not simply the return of a building, but the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Priory Theatre.
Below are some of the memories, photographs and records from those who experienced the fire and the remarkable rebuilding that followed.
Click the images to expand
Founding member and Theatre President at the time of the fire, George Tisdale, wrote an account of the fire.
As part of our 50th Anniversary of the fire, long standing member, Mark Thorburn, wrote a piece about his experiences at the time.
The Re-building of The Priory
THE GREATEST SHOW ON TAPE! It was the biggest, the most ambitious and the most expensive production in the history of the Priory Theatre. It took two years, involved a hundred or more members and helpers and, revalued to 2026 prices, cost some £500,000. It was, of course, the rebuilding of the theatre after the catastrophic fire on the night of 4 September 1976. A unique record of this extraordinary piece of the theatre's history is available to watch online.
Filmed by Donald Foster
50th Celebration
In September 2026, the Priory Theatre marked 50 years since the fire with a special celebration ball at Nailcote Hall. Bringing together current and former members, friends and supporters of the theatre, the evening was an opportunity to remember the events of 1976, celebrate the incredible rebuilding effort that followed, and reflect on everything the Priory has achieved in the five decades since. It was a fitting celebration of the determination, friendship and community spirit that ensured the Priory Theatre rose again from the ashes.
