Royal Opera House

A significant three tier theatre by Essex & Nicol with C J Phipps as consultant, altered and improved by Sprague in 1898. Bomb damaged in 1940 but reopened as a cinema in 1941. Plans were to revert to theatre use after the war. There was a perceived need at that time for a civic theatre but the Royal Opera House was not entertained for that role. It closed in 1961 and was demolished that year.

Built / Converted
1889
Dates of use
  • 1889 - 1940
Current state
Demolished
Current use
Demolished
Address
Hales Street, Coventry, West Midlands, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
Opera House , Grand
Events
  • Owner/Management: H C Orr, proprietor
  • 1889 Design/Construction:
    Essex & Nicol
    - Architect
  • 1889 Design/Construction:
    C J Phipps
    - Consultant
    consulting architect
    William Goodall & Co (Liverpool)
    - Consultant
    structural decorators
  • 1889 Owner/Management: W Bennett, proprietor
  • 1889 - 1940 Use:
  • 1898 Alteration: alterations to front of dress circle, gallery and proscenium
    W G R Sprague
    - Architect
  • 1898 Design/Construction:
    De Jong & Co (London)
    - Consultant
    interior decoration
  • 1912 Owner/Management: H G Dudley Bennett
  • 1961 Owner/Management: Sketchleys, proprietor
Capacities
  • Original
    2000
Listings
  • Not listed
Stage type
Rake
Building dimensions: 1889 auditorium: 16.45m x 15.23m (54ft x 50ft wide)
Stage dimensions: 1889 d: 9.14m (30ft) w: 21.33m (70ft)
Proscenium width: 1889: 7.31m (24ft)
Height to grid: -
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: -

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