A THEATRE in Teesside has kept hold of a piece of Stockton’s history since the 1930s.

In the 1930s, The Stockton Globe was called the Globe Cinema and this is when some its the doors, still on site today, date back to.

The theatre has undergone many changes and re-builds in the last century, but these doors, which have been signed by various artists, have remained on display.

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The Northern Echo: Rob Brydon signing a door at The Stockton Globe in October 2021. Picture: STOCKTON GLOBERob Brydon signing a door at The Stockton Globe in October 2021. Picture: STOCKTON GLOBE

A spokeswoman for Stockton Borough Council said: “We believe the doors are from the original 1935 build and some may be later editions from the ABC (cinema) era.”

The doors were saved in the building’s renovations and are now on display in ‘back of house.’

Since the venue reopened in September 2021, acts that have signed these doors include; Rob Brydon, Jason Manford, Cattle and Cane, and Lulu.

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The Northern Echo: Jason Manford singing a door at The Stockton Globe in October 2021. Picture: STOCKTON GLOBEJason Manford singing a door at The Stockton Globe in October 2021. Picture: STOCKTON GLOBE

The Stockton Globe attracts a variety of entertainment acts and in its heyday acts such as; as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Morecambe and Wise performed at the Teesside venue.

The building was originally constructed in 1913 as the Globe Cinema, showing silent movies, and had approximately 500 seats.

Renovated in 1925-26, the venue was then called the Globe Picture House with 1200 seats and showed the area’s first ‘talkies.’

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The Northern Echo: Teesside duo Cattle and Cane singing a door after their show at The Globe in December 2021. Picture: STOCKTON GLOBETeesside duo Cattle and Cane singing a door after their show at The Globe in December 2021. Picture: STOCKTON GLOBE

It was then demolished in 1935 and re-built eight months later, and it is this building that stands on Stockton High Street today.

Bought in 1937 by Associated British Cinemas (ABC), live shows continued together with film screenings. The building was renamed as the ABC Cinema in 1967. The building closed initially in 1974.

After a short-lived attempt to re-open as a theatre, Mecca bingo took over the building in 1977 until the eventual closure in 1997.

Read more: Why hundreds were evacuated from Stockton Globe just 15 minutes into show

The building is currently owned by Jomast, an urban regeneration specialist, although Stockton Borough Council has leased the building with an option to buy after 15 years. 

The performing arts venue has seen plenty of drama over the last few decades and last weekend was no different as hundreds flocked to the theatre to see singer Paul Carrack.

15 minutes into the performance, the fire alarm sounded and the auditorium was evacuated.

Cleveland Fire Brigade was on the scene quickly and fortuantely for all involved, it was a false alarm and spectators returned to their seats after around 40 minutes of waiting outside.

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