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Photo: Mike Jones (actonhilton.co.uk)
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The building pictured above has all the appeal of a local government office in Staines. However, for many years it was a keenly anticipated destination for TP whenever he was appearing in a BBC drama ... the Television Rehearsal Rooms at Acton. But, let's just rewind the clock briefly ...
Draughty Scout Huts and Drill Halls ...
When the BBC commissioned Television Centre in the late 50s the designers and engineers came up with probably the finest, bespoke production and studio facility ever built; but, crammed as it was with studios, workshops, production and design departments, no one had thought to include rehearsal space for the actors and artists for the programmes that were to me made there.
For much of the 60s, then, rehearsals took place in draughty scout huts and drill halls, dotted all across London.
For much of the 60s, then, rehearsals took place in draughty scout huts and drill halls, dotted all across London.
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| TA Drill Hall |
Many of these belonged to the Territorial Army but when that organisation embarked on a major closure programme, the BBC realised it faced a chronic shortage of suitable venues and needed a permanent fix for a looming problem.
The 'Acton Hilton' ...
The 'Acton Hilton' ...
The result was the leasing of the Television Rehearsal Rooms at Acton, just a couple of miles away from TV Centre. Completed and opened in 1970, it featured 18 rehearsal rooms across seven floors and included Green Rooms and a large, top-floor canteen.
Rising far above any other buidings in its locale, it soon became known amongst BBC staff as the 'Acton Hilton'.
Rising far above any other buidings in its locale, it soon became known amongst BBC staff as the 'Acton Hilton'.
Like a Magic-Box
As a dedicated facility the Rehearsal Rooms were very popular with actors, directors and production staff alike. While outside there was a bleak, urban sprawl, inside, it was like an amazing magic-box with a kaleidoscope of sit-coms, variety specials and major dramas being marked out, rehearsed and tech'd to an exacting standard.
"A spring in his step ... "
Now, TP always took the rehearsal process very seriously. Simply put, he couldn't get enough of it and would always arrive punctually, with a spring in his step and keen to begin the day's work. Until lunchtime, that is.
"Let's Break for Lunch ... "
That's when everyone percolated to the top of the building, to the large canteen and there TP would find himself in the lunch queue, with perhaps Arthur Lowe in front of him, or Ronnie Barker behind.
There'd always be plenty of repartee ringing around the room as old pals hailed one another, exchanged gossip and indulged in bringing each other down to size.
Indeed, it was a wholly democratic environment; an entire trade at lunch with household names, jobbing actors, directors, PAs and floor staff all sat at the same tables.
TP would often by surprised by some of the people who would approach him in the canteen, revealing themselves as admirers, particularly from the world of Variety where
they seemed to regard 'legitimate' actors with a certain degree of awe. One such 'fan' who often stopped to chat was Ernie Wise, though luckily he never seemed to have TP in mind for one of his plays 'wot I wrote'.
Emperor's New Clothes ...
Looking back, TP always recalls the Acton years as the happiest of times: working at the 'Beeb' and working with the best. However, by the 1990s, and with the success of initiatives such as Channel Four's film arm, a death knell was sounding for BBC TV Drama and new strands such as Screen One and Screen Two began replacing studio-based productions.
These were all-film affairs. Shot on location and, rarely, with any dedicated rehearsal period. Consequently, the Rehearsal Rooms were becoming redundant, a victim it might have been said of 'Emperor's new clothes'.
Indeed, irony of ironies, the Acton Hilton would finish its days as a storage facility for all the costumes that had adorned many hours of classic TV drama, but were now deemed surplus to requirement. (Though years later once they'd been sold off, the BBC was hiring them back again at great cost for the likes of Middlemarch and Sense & Sensibility.)
This curious, ungainly building is now no more having been demolished a few years ago, and yet it is remembered with great affection and mourned by all those who worked there.
RELATED WEBSITES:
actonhilton.co.uk: Mike Jones, a distinguished 'Beeb' veteran, has created the ultimate tribute site dedicated to the BBC Rehearsal Rooms and much of the information used in this article has come from his site.
tvstudiohistory.co.uk: Also, for all those with a curiosity in UK TV studios down the years this site is an absolute treasure trove. As they used to say in the TV Times adverts, 'I never knew there was so much in it!'
"A spring in his step ... "
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| TP in rehearsal at Acton |
"Let's Break for Lunch ... "
That's when everyone percolated to the top of the building, to the large canteen and there TP would find himself in the lunch queue, with perhaps Arthur Lowe in front of him, or Ronnie Barker behind.
There'd always be plenty of repartee ringing around the room as old pals hailed one another, exchanged gossip and indulged in bringing each other down to size.
Indeed, it was a wholly democratic environment; an entire trade at lunch with household names, jobbing actors, directors, PAs and floor staff all sat at the same tables.
"You've always been a big fan of mine ..."
TP would often by surprised by some of the people who would approach him in the canteen, revealing themselves as admirers, particularly from the world of Variety where
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| The Liver Birds: Polly James & Nerys Hughes posing for a publicity shot outside the Acton Rehearsal Rooms |
Emperor's New Clothes ...
Looking back, TP always recalls the Acton years as the happiest of times: working at the 'Beeb' and working with the best. However, by the 1990s, and with the success of initiatives such as Channel Four's film arm, a death knell was sounding for BBC TV Drama and new strands such as Screen One and Screen Two began replacing studio-based productions.
These were all-film affairs. Shot on location and, rarely, with any dedicated rehearsal period. Consequently, the Rehearsal Rooms were becoming redundant, a victim it might have been said of 'Emperor's new clothes'.
Indeed, irony of ironies, the Acton Hilton would finish its days as a storage facility for all the costumes that had adorned many hours of classic TV drama, but were now deemed surplus to requirement. (Though years later once they'd been sold off, the BBC was hiring them back again at great cost for the likes of Middlemarch and Sense & Sensibility.)
This curious, ungainly building is now no more having been demolished a few years ago, and yet it is remembered with great affection and mourned by all those who worked there.
The BBC Television Rehearsal Rooms, Acton
R.I.P.
RELATED WEBSITES:
actonhilton.co.uk: Mike Jones, a distinguished 'Beeb' veteran, has created the ultimate tribute site dedicated to the BBC Rehearsal Rooms and much of the information used in this article has come from his site.
tvstudiohistory.co.uk: Also, for all those with a curiosity in UK TV studios down the years this site is an absolute treasure trove. As they used to say in the TV Times adverts, 'I never knew there was so much in it!'
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