Empire Theatre of Varieties

The Empire Theatre of Varieties opened in May 1906 on the site of the former Palace Theatre of Varieties. Designed by Sprague, it cost £30,000 to build and was constructed by Walter Wallis. The new theatre had a narrow frontage to the street and a 75 foot high ornamental tower with figures by Arrowsmith, a local sculptor. On going through the entrance, a corridor and stairs lead to the foyer space, which gave access to the grand circle and boxes. The auditorium was on three levels – stalls, grand circle and gallery – seating up to 2500 people. The auditorium’s original colour scheme was cream, gold and white with red furnishings and it had a domed roof with a stained-glass roof light. An orchestra pit could accommodate 14 musicians. The building operated as both a theatre and a cinema for over 50 years. It closed as a cinema on 30 May 1959, and was demolished two years later to make way for an office block, car park and shops.