The Lovekyn Chapel

The Lovekyn Chapel is the only remaining free-standing Chantry Chapel in England, the oldest complete building in Kingston and a starred Grade 2 listed building with a fascinating history.

The Chapel is named after Edward Lovekyn, a Kingston caterer who lived from 1239 – 1310. It was founded as a Chantry Chapel for his family in 1309 in exchange for his writing off debts against the crown; King Edward I and Margaret of France failed to pay him for preparing their lavish wedding feast in 1299.

After the dissolution of the Chantries in 1547, the Chapel fell to the Crown and was deconsecrated. Richard Taverner, a court favourite, preserved the Chapel so when in 1561 the bailiffs of Kingston petitioned Queen Elizabeth for a royal grammar school, the building was still usable. Fourteen years after the end of its life as a Chantry Chapel, the Queen decided the little chapel of St Mary Magdalene should start a new life as the home of her Grammar School.

Today, although no longer used for religious services, with its whitewashed walls, delicate stained glass windows and landscaped courtyard garden, it serves as a charming venue for civil marriages and naming ceremonies, presentations, exhibitions, and musical events.

The courtyard garden has been recently restored and provides a beautiful setting for wedding photographs and champagne receptions whilst the small kitchen allows refreshments to be served during recital intervals.  For information about hiring this venue for your wedding or function, please contact The Events and Lettings Co-ordinator on 020 8939 8176.

The Performing Arts Centre

Queen Elizabeth II Building, London Road Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 6PY Tel: 020 8939 8176 Purpose-built state-of-the-art performing arts centre.  With its flexible seating and two large foyers, it is one of the most versatile venues in the area.

From the largest conference to the simplest meeting, from product launches to exhibitions, from tragedy to comedy.  The Theatre is able to tailor its superb facilities to your particular needs.

Facilities include: Separate entrance to The Theatre, stunning glass-fronted foyers, separate bar/cafe facilities, cloakroom, cooling system, ample dressing room.

5 min walk from Kingston Train Station, 20 min to London’s Waterloo Activities include art exhibitions, conferences, concerts, theatrical and dance performances.  Seating can be retracted to make a 16m by 14m rehearsal room or dance studio, as the whole floor is sprung.  Facilities: Raked seating dependent on the layout: 216 with two flat rows, 192 with one flat row, 176 raked seating only. 400 standing, 160 cabaret style. Licensed bar with large foyer, Sennheiser infra-red loop system, disabled access.

TECHNICAL

Proscenium Arch. Performing area 10m x 7m Pros opening is adjustable, max width 13 m. Wing widths 2.5m SL and SR. No rake, Harlequin Sprung Floor covered with Rosco twin black / grey dance floor, suitable for all dance; backstage crossover; stage heated. Height to grid 7m. No fly tower. 14 bars with a mixture of winched and hemp. 3 pairs of legs, 3 borders, 2 sets of black half tabs, white cloth Cyc, permanent Rosco plastic white Cyc, House Border and House Tabs in plum. 8 double 13amp sockets on stage. Get-in via 3 sets of double doors street level. 3 section Zarges Skymaster and a 2 person electric driveable Scissor Lift.

Lighting Frog 2 Memory desk, 2,048 channels, 1000 subs running 48 x 2.5 kw, Chilli pro dimmers operated from large control room built into rear of theatre – no supply for temporary dimmers. 32 Fresnels 20 spots, 20 S4 Pars, 4-4 cell Cyc lights, 16 Scrollers, 4 - 574 w Moving Lights.

Sound 24:8:2 desk operated from large control room built into rear of theatre, 3 amps, 8 Tannoy V8s 2 graphic EQ’s, Omnidrive speaker management unit. 8 SM58, 8 SM57 4 MD players 2 CD player & 4 radio microphones.

Stage Management Prompt corner SL or SR , 6 Beltpacks and Cans, show relay and Tannoy to dressing room, Tannoy to FOH.

Backstage One large dressing room or two smaller dressing rooms divided with an acoustic wall, 4 other rooms can be used to hold more cast. All with show relay and Tannoy. Backstage accessible to disabled performers. A fully-qualified Technical Coordinator is available.

To hire this state-of-the-art theatre for a performance, conference or seminar, please contact the Events and Lettings Co-ordinator on 020 8939 8176.

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