Averham

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Averham
Nottinghamshire
Church of St Michael, Averham - geograph.org.uk - 1111614.jpg
St Michael's Church
Location
Grid reference: SK7654
Location: 53°4’48"N, 0°51’36"W
Data
Population: 294  (2011)
Post town: Newark
Postcode: NG23
Local Government
Council: Newark and Sherwood

Averham is a village and parish in the Thurgarton Wapentake of Nottinghamshire. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 187, increasing to 294 at the 2011 census.[1] The village is just west of Newark-on-Trent. Staythorpe Power Station is south-west of the village.

Church

Averham is the location of the Church of St Michael and All Angels, a Grade-I listed building.[2]

Theatrical tradition

Averham weir at high water

For many decades, the village has been famous locally for the Robin Hood Theatre. The 150-seat theatre was designed by built Reverend Joseph Cyril Walker and built on the grounds of Averham Rectory, in 1913, by the village carpenter, Robert Lee. Its original name was Robin Hood Opera House.[3][4] The Youth section of the Robin Hood Theatre has become an important part of its function, and performs regularly in the Nottingham And Nottinghamshire Drama Association Festival.

The theatre closed in 1951, then reopened 1n 1961 as a public theatre under a charitable trust. After a financial struggle, the County Council took over the trusteeship in 1981.[5] In 2007, the theatre was closed by the county because of safety concerns.[3]

In 2014, the theatre group, which had been performing in schools and village halls, announced that they had raised more than £50,000 toward renovation of the theatre. Contributors include Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, and Sylvia Syms.

Notes

Outside links

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