Information on Loughborough

‘Pants and politics’ on offer at historic theatre venue

Posted on 08/02/2012

Leicestershire Councty Council Adults & Communities

8 February 2012

‘Pants and politics’ on offer at historic theatre venue

A look back at three hundred years of underwear, and a screening of Oscar winning movie ‘Milk’ combine for a special event at Snibston Discovery Museum’s Century Theatre.

The evening, which is part of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) History Month includes a private viewing of the ‘Support and Seduction’ underwear exhibition, including an introduction from the curator.

Taken from Snibston’s fashion collections this exhibition includes eighteenth century stays, Victorian corsets and crinolines, Edwardian combinations, 1950s waspies and 1970s Y fronts.

The talk, on February 24th, is followed by a showing of the film 'Milk', the 2008 biopic of Harvey Milk (played by Sean Penn) the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in the US in the 1970s.

Lesley Pendleton, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Equalities, said: “We are delighted to be hosting an event for LGBT history month at Snibston. While we hope that ‘Pants and politics’ is a fun and enjoyable evening, it is important that we remember the contribution of LGBT people to worldwide history. It is fitting that we can celebrate at the Century Theatre, a piece of history in itself, as Britain’s oldest surviving mobile theatre.”

Pants and Politics takes places on Friday 24th February, 6pm for the talk followed by a 7:30pm showing of the film. Tickets are £5 if booked in advance from the theatre’s box office by calling 01530 278 444.

Tickets can also be booked in person at Snibston, Ashby Rd, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3LN or by emailing snibston@leics.gov.uk

Notes to editor:

Snibston is the permanent home of the Century Theatre, Britain’s oldest surviving mobile theatre.

Built between 1948 and 1952 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, this innovative structure provides an auditorium for 200 people and a full size stage, yet can be packed away into four articulated lorry trailers! The theatre was designed by John Ridley who used ingenious design, an aluminium superstructure and hydraulic rams, to create a professional-quality theatre building that could be folded up and moved by road.

Following its opening night in Hinckley in September 1952, the theatre toured Britain until 1974, remaining only a few weeks in each venue. From 1974 until 1997 the Century was used as the town theatre of Keswick in Cumbria, and then, thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, it was saved from the scrapyard, refurbished and brought home to Leicestershire.

The theatre was run by its own company expressly created to take quality drama to communities throughout Britain and helped greatly with post-war cultural reconstruction. Many of the company’s actors and technicians went on from touring with the Century to make important contributions to theatre in Britain and abroad.