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

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

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.

[flagship]

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.

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

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 :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3034741410/
http://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.

[flagship]

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!

[Blue Bombay]

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

Louis

[Rob Lightbody]

Like Kathy M the stencils were way before my time.  

Don't you both mean after your time??

[Kathy M.]

Yes, Rob, you are correct - senior moment I guess!

[Bob C.]

Same.  Damn I'm getting old...

[Chris]

It was a fantastic room to lecture in. It had magnificent acoustics and the atmosphere inside was brilliant. I agree with Rob, it could have been put to better use, especially for the shows (which required views for all, as well as good acoustics).

[Twynkle]

For  all those musical concerts, the Theatre was a good venue too.
Considering how much sound travelled in other places on QE2,
sometimes it was difficult to believe we were in the middle of a liner.
On rainy sea days, when the other rooms were full of people enjoying a chat,
I used to go and read in there!

Wouldn't it be lovely to visit the Theatre and Library again - as they were?

[Chris]

Rosie, I would especially like to see my book for sale in the Library / Bookshop once again

[Rob Lightbody]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightbody/2120423152/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightbody/2120941888/

[Chris]

Nice shot there with all the coloured lights on!

[Bob C.]

Anyone ever attend a Sunday church service in the theater?  I used to love them as a kid since they were only 30 min long and my regular church services at home were an hour.  I'd love to go back and do it again but would feel a bit cheated since I don't mind the 1 hr+ lengths of church services anymore.

[Twynkle]

Yes, Bob a.k.a Reltco
We did too!
All the hymns about sailors and the sea, sung with great spirit...
It was an incredibly powerful experience.
The Theatre was about half full - 'Church' on QE2, that was a good thing to do.

[Twynkle]

The audience was small,  the music was good. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/3721249151/

[Cunardqueen]

Anyone ever attend a Sunday church service in the theater?

Not that lm a Kirkie person, well l used to be years ago and was on the fundraising,Social & Coffee committee , but you dont need to know that. But l thought l would take a pop along for the service on November 11th 2007, Boy was that place packed full, people standing everywhere, Dont think l ever saw the Theatre so full. Captain Bates took the moving service.

Im pleased that l went..and they played Nearer my God to Thee...
As Rosie says it was a powerful experience.

[Bob C.]

..and they played Nearer my God to Thee...
As Rosie says it was a powerful experience.

I'm indifferent about most old hymns but there are a few, including "Nearer My God to Thee" that stike a chord (no pun intended) every time I hear it as I associate it with Titanic and the historical trans-Atlantic liners.  Regardless of the historical accuracy of whether the Titanic's band played that song or not, its a very moving hymn considering what was happening and about to happen to the 1500+ who did not survive the disaster.  

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Whenever I attended one of those interdenominational church services, I found the Theatre full to bursting, and we made sure we arrived in good time to have three adjoining seats!

A bit of a write-up here (Day 5 of my Autumn Colours diary) :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2860215599/

A few pictures here :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3124992155/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2861057098/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2861056758/

And a short video (which is really an audio) of the wonderful hymn "For those in peril on the Sea" :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3130096573/

I asked Ian McNaught whether he had ever taken any special training for his role as the leader during these services, and found (to my surprise) that he had not. He certainly led better than many a full-time cleric -- but he never had to preach, of course.

The Roman Catholic Mass, on the other hand, was attended by far fewer, but very regular participants. The Theatre served well for all those occasions.

[Blue Bombay]

Heres another shot,when you compare to the previous photos above notice that the piano is on the other side of the stage.

Louis

[Chris]

Looks very different with the chairs in Blue.

[Rob Lightbody]

The main problem, I think, was the beigy-pink velour seats.  They LOOKED like they were from the early to mid 70s, even though they weren't.  I think if they'd been covered in something in a different colour, and more modern material, it would have all looked far better.

[Stowaway2k]

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.  

Plus, it was always too warm in there!

Early Theater, dressed in her first frock:

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From Vintage Cunard PR Photos of QE2</td></tr></table>

You can read a description of the original theater decoration here
in the Transart Ltd. book:
http://picasaweb.google.com/stowaway2k/QE2TheBookByTransartLtd#5411367620572806482
zoom in for nice clear text