Theatre Royal & Opera House

Set in a quiet back street in the Stoke 'town' of Tunstall, the Theatre Royal was built in 1865. It had limited success, and in 1882 was taken over by the Salvation Army. They remodelled the interior to become a Salvation Army citadel, a use which continued until 1998 when they moved to new premises. The building was purchased by a Ceramics manufacturer for use as a showroom, it is believed with little change to the interior.

The Theatre Royal is a small, pitched roof building in brick with a rendered three-bay gabled façade with tall arched windows. Its side elevation to Harewood Street continues the arched theme, with windows at first floor level, but bricked openings at ground floor. The auditorium originally had two balconies. It now has a single U-shaped balcony supported on six columns. The ceiling, which has two additional timber supporting columns, is not original. Like other Salvation Army conversions, the interior state has some of the appearance of a theatre but the raked stage is clearly post-1882.

Built / Converted
1865
Dates of use
  • 1865 - 1882
Current state
Extant
Current use
Converted to other use (Salvation Army Citadel 1882-1998; from 1999 ceramics showroom)
Address
Ladywell Road/Harewood Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Tunstall, Staffordshire, ST6 5DE, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
Royal Prince of Wales Theatre , Prince Albert Concert Hall
Events
  • 1865 Design/Construction:
    Ward & Ford (Hanley & Burslem)
    - Architect
  • 1865 - 1882 Use:
  • 1866 Owner/Management: E H Francis, lessee?
  • 1866 - 1869 Owner/Management: Taylor & Roberts, proprietors
  • 1869 Owner/Management: George Herbert, manager
  • 1869 - 1870 Owner/Management: Julia Willis, proprietor
  • 1871 Owner/Management: B Kelly, proprietor; James Hancock, lessee
  • 1871 Owner/Management: later Keene & Lester, lessees
  • 1871 Owner/Management: later J T Tute, proprietor
  • 1871 Owner/Management: later Mills, proprietor
  • 1871 - 1872 Owner/Management: Branson, lessee
  • 1872 Alteration: extensive alterations - though not clear whether executed (architect unknown).
  • 1873 Owner/Management: J H Loome & J Windley
  • 1874 Owner/Management: W H Smith, manager
  • 1877 Alteration: unspecified improvements (architect unknown).
  • 1877 - 1878 Owner/Management: Miss Jessie Westcott, manager
  • 1882 Alteration: major internal remodelling as Salvation Army citadel (architect unknown).
  • 1882 - 1998 Owner/Management: Salvation Army
  • 1999 Owner/Management: P K Ceramics (as ceramics showroom).
Capacities
  • Original
    1865: 1500-1800
Listings
  • Not listed
Stage type
Pros raked c.1:30
Building dimensions: Length: 70ft along short side; maybe 80ft on the
Stage dimensions: Depth: c.29ft Width: c.42ft
Proscenium width: 25ft 6in
Height to grid: -
Inside proscenium: 25ft
Orchestra pit: -

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