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Theatre Royal

1054

The Theatre Royal was built for Charles Revill of Stockport. It had a façade of dark Accrington bricks with Derbyshire stone dressings, three storeys in height with a crowning balustrade. The central entrance bay was slightly advanced, rising to a rather oddly detailed Dutch gable. Hipped roof with central fleche. Iron entrance canopy with outsize corner lanterns and a treillage front, forming a balcony to the first floor French casements.

The auditorium, a horseshoe on plan, had two balconies, each divided into two seating areas, viz. dress and ‘upper’ circle on the lower tier and amphitheatre and gallery on the upper. The ornamentation was described as ‘Arabesque’ in character with pedimented private boxes and ‘pinnacled canopies’ (? to the slips). Painted decorations by Binns with Indian drapes and scrolls and, in the ceiling, Indian heads and grasses. Act drop with nautch girl. Proscenium with chocolate-coloured marble piers and elaborate embossed plush valance; Japanese papers in boxes; olive green and gold upholstery.

The theatre was in use for forty years for variety shows, converting to cinema use in 1931, and returning to theatre in 1939. It was famous for touring pantomimes at Christmas (a different one every week) and circus, as well as variety. Gave over to repertory in 1951, closing in 1953.

Built / Converted
1891
Dates of use
  • 1891 - 1953
Current state
Demolished
Current use
Demolished (bingo for short period after 1957)
Address
Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
-
Events
  • 1891 Design/Construction:
    Frank Matcham
    - Architect
  • 1891 Design/Construction:
    Jonas Binns
    - Consultant
    art decoration
    Stott
    - Consultant
    ventilation and sunburner
    A&R Dean
    - Consultant
    seating
    Kendal Milne
    - Consultant
    curtains and upholstery
    Ryan of London
    - Consultant
    act drop
  • 1891 Owner/Management: W J & C B Revill, owners
  • 1891 - 1953 Use:
  • 1931 Alteration: converted to cinema
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1939 Alteration: returned to theatre use
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1951 - 1954 Owner/Management: Jack Rose Repertory Players, lessee
  • 1954 - 1955 Owner/Management: Emery Circuit Cinemas Ltd, lessee
  • 1956 Owner/Management: Myles Byrne (West End) Theatres Ltd, lessee
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    3000
Listings
  • Listing
    Not listed
Stage type
-
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: d: 41ft w: 75ft
Proscenium width: 29ft
Height to grid: 44ft
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: -