The Assembly Rooms was built by public subscription to house the Literary Institution, the Penny Library and to serve as a venue for public meetings and events. It became one of the earliest community centres to be built in England, hosting Music Hall, Cabaret, Theatre and Dances.
1914 - 1925 The Assembly Rooms enjoyed its heyday when it became the home of the first Rural Arts Festival in England. Rutland Boughton, as producer and director, invited celebrities such as George Bernard Shaw, Alice Buxton, Thomas Hardy, Isadora Duncan and D.H. Lawrence.
Boughton brought his vision of Music Drama to the Assembly Rooms, staging some 350 performances in his lifetime, including premieres of his own works - "The Immortal Hour", "Bethlehem" and his Arthurian Cycle. The Glastonbury Town Players were originally formed as an amateur community group specifically to perform them and other pieces, attracting music lovers from around the world.
The Assembly Rooms became infamous as a place 'frequented by bohemians wearing corduroy trousers' and Boughton as a man of dubious morals and socialist politics. The Assembly Rooms was not large enough to be able to become financially successful, events moved to an expanded Town Hall, and Boughton was forced to stand down. His work was partially carried on by Laurence Houseman, the dramatist and peace campaigner.
The Assembly Rooms returned to being a venue for sales and dances, still fondly remembered by some of Glastonbury's older residents.
WWII The building was requisitioned for use as a social club for Americal GIs - the first time a black face had ever been seen in Glastonbury!
1945 After the war, the building was bought up by Morlands and used as a sheepskin warehouse
1973 By the 70's, the building was purchased by Somerset County Council in a near derelict state and lined up for demolition. A group of festival goers decided to squat the building and this led to a revival of interest in restoring it as a community building.
1977 Formation of the Assembly Rooms Trust in order to facilitate leasing it from the council. The first Glastonbury Arts Festival in over 50 years featured Frank Mansell, Laurie Lee, Yehudi Menuhin, The Nash Ensemble and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
1981 The day to day running was taken over by Street Theatre Workshop Trust, which led to the formation of Gog Theatre Co-operative and laid the foundations for a unique Arts Employment Training scheme.
1983 Saw the birth of a programme of events - the "31" Club - and a new Cafe, establishing the Assembly Rooms once again as a meeting place for Glastonbury's Alternative Community, hosting the first Glastonbury Earth Mysteries Gathering and the popular "Art on the Dole" exhibition.
The Earth Mysteries Gatherings evolved into regular seasonal Celebrations, fostered the formation of Oak Dragon and Rainbow Circle
1984 A committee of Local residents formed "the Friends of the Assembly Rooms", responsible for much of the way the building looks and runs today.
1987 The building was purchased from the council with the aid of community donations and a hefty mortgage.
1991 Saw the formation of "The Assembly Rooms of Glastonbury Limited" under Industrial and Provident Society rules and the launch of a co-operative share ownership scheme. This enabled us to pay off the mortgage, buy the building outright and finance long overdue renovation work. By the mid 90's the Assembly Rooms had become a recognised venue on the national circuit, attracting performers and audiences from all over the world, and a unique cultural centre, merging the concepts of Community Arts Centre and Sacred Space in the heart of the Glastonbury community.
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Assembly Rooms of Glastonbury's Friend Space (Top 35)
hiya,hope you are well,we have been in the studio for some months putting together the new drum and bass album “TRIPPIN THE DARK FANTASTIC”. Which is available to listen to on our page and our reverbnation site www.reverbnation.com/tribalunderground
With the new addition to the crew DYLEMMA, providing the crispest beats around,we are now working on the live set ,which should be ready to roll by the new year.
Be sure to pop by for a chat,see whats going on,soon as the live shows have been confirmed we will let you know first.
Peace and much love and respect, kj,bad fishy,dylemma,your tribal crew.....
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnF1YW50Y2FzdC5jb20vcC0wNS0tLXhvTmhUWFZj"; target="_blan
hiya,hope you are well,we have been in the studio for some months putting together the new drum and bass album “TRIPPIN THE DARK FANTASTIC”. Which is available to listen to on our page and our reverbnation site www.reverbnation.com/tribalunderground
With the new addition to the crew DYLEMMA, providing the crispest beats around,we are now working on the live set ,which should be ready to roll by the new year.
Be sure to pop by for a chat,see whats going on,soon as the live shows have been confirmed we will let you know first.
Peace and much love and respect, kj,bad fishy,dylemma,your tribal crew.....
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnF1YW50Y2FzdC5jb20vcC0wNS0tLXhvTmhUWFZj"; target="_blan
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
hi - Glad to be friends! Check out THE GIG's' main website - 'New Musicians. New Music. Somerset, the Southwest and Beyond!
Just in case you hadn't heard yet - you can now add your own gigs to 'What's On Where' on THE GIG at www.gigstogoto.co.uk Create a link to your website, format text and add an image/poster to create your own event page linked to the calendar. It's FREE
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![EARTHQUAKE compiled by Digital Tribe [SP2CD007] : Coming Soon](http://i31.tinypic.com/59zpd1.jpg)
