The Elgiva is a 300 seated / 400 standing capacity theatre, with a digital cinema, owned and managed by Chesham Town Council. The Elgiva presents a wide-ranging programme of professional and amateur productions, top comedy, musicals, ballet/dance, one night shows, an eclectic range of movies, exhibitions, weddings and other public and private events.
Box Office opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 3pm excluding Bank Holidays: 01494 582900 .
Café Encore the coffee shop and café located at The Elgiva Theatre is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 3pm.
History
The Elgiva is named after Lady Elgiva, wife of Saxon King Edwy and the daughter of Ethelgiva (murdered during the constitutional crisis of 957-8), she was sister to Ethelwerd (who wrote the Latin Chronicle). Lady Elgiva created the first record of Chesham in bequeathing her estate of ‘Caesteleshamm’ to the abbey at Abingdon in 970 AD and concise studies place her life and actions within the context of Saxon England and reveals the importance of her legacy for the history of Buckinghamshire and, in particular, Chesham.
The Orignal Elgiva Hall opened. The New Elgiva was opened on its current site, in 1998 when the official reopening was performed by Danny La Rue.