In the spotlight

I found myself this afternoon in the derelict former Victoria Theatre.

The electrics and plumbing were stolen some time ago, the ground floor seating is all gone, it is all back to the bare walls and floors. There is some evidence of its last use as a bingo hall, but that is all largely gone too. Pigeons can be heard doing pigeon things above.

The switch to the emergency lighting could not be found, so a solitary torch had to be used. I asked it to linger on this corner balcony -and that is today's blip.

When built in the 19th century, these theatres were a focus for the popular entertainment of the day. Cinema and then TV cast them aside, and it is a struggle finding viable uses for them. This one is not an empty shell like others I know, and it seems to be watertight, but a secure future looks a difficult proposition. But you never know.