Why is the Crucible called the Crucible? History of the iconic theatre and how it became the ‘home of snooker’
The Crucible Theatre first opened in 1971 before becoming the home of the Snooker World Championship just six year later
Sheffield’s iconic Crucible Theatre opened its doors to performances for the first time 55 years ago in November 1971.
For more than half a century, it’s been a place where many incredible scripts have unfolded before our eyes including memorable productions such as Amadeus, Othello, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Twelfth Night and Life of Pi.
It’s also been the home of the Snooker World Championship since 1977, and has been the place where many have witnessed some incredible sporting storylines like Dennis Taylor's 1985 win over Steve Davis, Ronnie O'Sullivan's record-breaking 5-minute 147 in 1997 and most recently Zhao Xintong writing his name into the history books as Asia’s first champion during last year’s tournament.
The Crucible is synonymous with Sheffield and one of the first things many people associate with the Steel City. But where does the name for the iconic venue come from? Here’s all you need to know.
Why is the Crucible called the Crucible?
Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, which replaced the Sheffield Repertory Theatre which was based in Townhead Street at the Sheffield Playhouse, gained its name from a pioneering steel manufacturing process from the 1740s.
Crucible Steel was developed in Sheffield by Benjamin Huntsman, who now has a Wetherspoons named after him in the city centre, and played a vital role in the industrialisation of the city during the 18th century.
Huntsman experimented in steel manufacture, first at Doncaster before relocating to Handsworth in Sheffield.
At Sheffield's Northern General Hospital one of the original main buildings is named after him, and in the city centre is a Wetherspoons pub called The Benjamin Huntsman.
How The Crucible became the ‘Home of Snooker’
Sports promoter Mike Watterson – acting on the recommendation of wife Carole – is the man credited with taking snooker to the Crucible.
Former world champion Dennis Taylor recalled: “Carole had just happened to see a show at the Crucible. She said to him she’d seen a great venue for snooker. That's how it started.
“He went to have a look at it, and it wasn't just quite big enough to get the two tables in. He took the chance and had it there in 1977, and the BBC gave it blanket coverage, over 100 hours of coverage and that was when snooker took off.”
The Crucible, which secured the rights to host the World Championship until at least 2045, is set to be expanded by 50 percent in 2029, taking the overall capacity to 1,500 once work is complete.
Some including Barry Hawkins have questioned whether the venue is big enough to deal with the demand for tickets. Meanwhile, others such as Kyren Wilson say that the compact feel of the venue is what makes it so special and atmospheric.