During my recent visit to Shimla for MTB Himachal 2010, I got a chance to visit Gaiety Theater on Mall Road. Earlier it was not open for all and had restricted entry. These days Himachal Tourism has opened it for tourists for very minimal ticket for 15 Rs and 25 Rs(with Camera)... So everyone can visit the theater inside and click photographs by paying 25 rs only :-) .... It's a great place and one should go inside to see how old theaters look like... Check out few photographs of this place with few details about the place...
Here is the main Theater on the groud floor: very colorful, well maintained and the style is what we see in hollywood movies... Balconies in all three directions on the top and few special seats at mediate height on both the side with limited seating arrangements...
Here is another theater hall on first floor.. its parallel to Ritz and I think this one is mostly used for local shows ... There was one chair placed on the stage and somehow I liked the way it was looking at other chairs in the hall.. Here is a photographs from the stage having staged-chair in front of the theater hall...
This whole building is architecturally beautiful... If you have ever been to Mall road in Shimla, its next to Shimla Town hall in front of Balajees... One part of this building is used by Shimla Police and rest of it has two Theater halls, exhibition galleries etc... They were renovating this portion of the theater...
Here is first view of second theater hall from entry door... On the right, we have stage with a chair on it and doors in the front are exits towards Shimla-Ridge...
Check out some reviews about Gaiety Theater on Trip-Advisor @ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g304552-d321003-r6650801-Gaiety_Theatre-Shimla_Himachal_Pradesh.html
Check out some reviews about Gaiety Theater on Trip-Advisor @ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g304552-d321003-r6650801-Gaiety_Theatre-Shimla_Himachal_Pradesh.html
"Gaiety Theatre is a prehistoric building in shimla. Only two of the same kind exist in the world one in Britain Other Here. Although it is under restoration process it is one of the major attractions of shimla. Many movies have been shot in the old theatre. and it is witness to some of the finest stage play's of its time. Once completed with a cost of about 100 million rupees it will be a building/theatre worth visiting."
During the day time, most of the galleries and balconies of this building are well lit with sunlight... Here is one hidden area with some organized shadows on the floor...
Colorful balcony of main Thatre in Gaiety Building on Mall Road, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh...
The architect Henry Irwin, who built the Viceregal Lodge, designed the theatre building. In 1911, the upper portions of the building were dismantled as the structure was found to be unsafe. It was opened on the 30th of May, 1887, Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year and its God- Father was lord Bill Beresford, who saved the Simla A.D.C.(Amateur Dramatic Club) , time and again from financial ruin. The formal inauguration of the Simla A.D.C. took place in the year 1888 and since then plays have been staged in the Gaiety with unfalling regularty.The history of ADC goes back to the times when theatre was looked upon as a major and serious source of entertainment and, therefore became a cultural necessity for the English elite. Hence, Shimla became the home of amateur theatre and the Gaiety Theatre produced the best of the plays performed in London.
Stairs for Exhibition Galleries on first floor...
Corridor outside second theater on first floor...
Well known film personalities like K.L. Saigal, Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kendall, Raj Babbar, Anupam Kher, Manohar Singh, Nasseerudin Shah, frequently performed on the stage of the Gaiety theatre.
Roof of main theater @ Gaiety building on Mall Road, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Check out more details about Gaiety Theater Shimla on its official website @ http://www.gaiety.in/
TO CHECK MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF PLACES AROUNBD SHIMLA, CLICK ON LINKS BELOW:
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