The Theatre - Decorative Artwork & Renovations

[highlander0108]

This is a test. Does anyone recognize this wall artwork from the ship and know it's location?  



I am curious what the history is of this and whether the space where it was used had these stencils from the beginning and/or when they were added.  On my last night onboard, I went around photographing everything I could in the wee hours of the morning and I never paid much attention to this artwork in this space until I saw it completely empty.

[Chris]

It is from QE2's Theatre

[Malcolm]

Chris beat me to it ( )

My understanding was that the décor in the theatre was unchanged since her launch. I would take that to include the stencils, however I have no proof that was the case.

[highlander0108]

Correct!    A few more shots to help recall the space.  I have not been able to find any old pictures of this area to compare to.

[Michael Gallagher]

Hello Everyone

The stencils were added when £130,000 was spent on a much-needed refurbishment of this room in the 1992 refit. The new look refected the 1930s and consisted of a new decor of soft peach, mauve and pink. The walls received the golf and silver stencils then. New comfortable seats, new stage curtains and new carpeting was also installed. The lighting system and curtain tracks were overhauled, a new changing room was built on the starboard side and the cinema projectors and sound systems were repaired.

[Twynkle]

That's really helpful - thank you!

Having spent quite a few early mornings waiting there for the shore ex gatherings,
these stencils became fairly well embedded in memory!

Weren't there some along the front of the stage 'apron' as well as on the side walls?

[highlander0108]

Artwork below the stage.  Regarding the seating, I found them extremely comfortable and often dozed off during a movie or a lexture.  Perhaps it was the ship movement, combined with darkness that helped too. 

[Rob Lightbody]

I thought the stencilled artwork cheapened the room, I didn't like it at all.

I think the room felt naked and looked neglected.  There was nothing "special" about it.  Except, that is, for the actual original design of the space, and its brilliant accoustics etc.  It was dramatically under-utilized and should have been used in place of the Grand Lounge for many occasions.

[highlander0108]

I agree with you Rob in both aspects; the room was underutilized and the stenciling was a bit tacky and a lame attempt at going retro Art Deco.  (and we're getting more of that Art Deco with QE)  I suppose that was a inexpensive way, in the designer's head, to spruce up the space and update it by going backward in time.  My fondest memory of this space is the COmmodore Warwick Lecture on QE2 throughout the years that he gave on the Farewell to the UK trip.

[Malcolm]

Regarding the seating, I found them extremely comfortable

Agreed, except for one seat in the balcony. On the left hand side as you face the stage and about five rows down. The hinge was failing meaning that sitting there you were left at a very uncomfortable angle. The seat was like that on the WC and still like that on the Round Britain. It was funny to get there early, see people sit in the seat for a couple of minutes and then move to another seat elsewhere!

[Kathy M.]

All I remember about the theater is the movie I saw there (Stealing Home with Jodie Foster!)-and the stencils were before my time!

[Bob C.]

Like Kathy M the stencils were way before my time.  Two movies that I remember seeing there were Midnight Express and Moonraker.  Yes, that was a long time ago...

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

The stencils were there during the years (2000 to 2008) I have known QE2, including last September when I took these pictures :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3034741410/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3033889965/

Here are some views of the original Theatre from Design Magazine :

http://www.vads.ahds.ac.uk/diad/bres/pub/COID/244/67.jpg

As flagship says above, the (only?) refurbishment took place in 1992.

[Michael Gallagher]

The Theatre was redone again during the 2001 refit and all the chairs were reupholstered in the fabric / colours we had when the ship retired. So... two refurbishments for the Theatre in her career!

[Louis De Sousa]

I might be wrong but i think the Theatre had a touch up in 1987 refit.

Louis