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Queen's Theatre

Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Overview

  • Address: Spring Gardens. For a current map, Click Here.

  • Alternate Names: Theatre Royal, New Theatre Royal (pre-1807), New Amphitheatre (after 1809), New Pavilion, Royal Minor Theatre

  • Performance Space Description: Information about this venue has not yet been compiled; however, some sense of the performance space may be gleaned by following the links at right. In particular:

  • See the 'Bibliographic Sources' link for a provisional list of venue-relevant resources (both primary and secondary). Wherever possible (i.e. when the pertinent text is relatively short and/or easily condensed) this material has been transcribed, and appears beneath the appropriate bibliographic citation.

  • See the 'Events at venue' link for a listing of blackface/minstrelsy-related events that took place in this performance space (with attached bibliographic references).

    Beth Marquis

  • Troupes at Queen's Theatre

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    'Tahiti' Troupe (Queen's, 47) Dramatic Definite 'Tahiti' Troupe (Queen's, 47)
    Aldridge, Ira Aldridge, Ira Dramatic Definite Aldridge, Ira
    Barlow, W.R. Barlow, W.R. Minstrel Definite Barlow, W.R.
    Benson, Wood Dramatic Definite Benson, Wood
    Bentley, T. Dramatic Definite Bentley, T.
    Betty, Henry Betty, Henry Dramatic Definite Betty, Henry
    Bounce! Troupe (Manchester, 46) Freeman, Dramatic Definite Bounce! Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Brooke, G.V. Brooke, G.V. Dramatic Definite Brooke, G.V.
    Dillon, Charles Dillon, Charles Dramatic Definite Dillon, Charles
    Egan, F.B. Egan, F.B. Dramatic Definite Egan, F.B.
    Female American Serenaders Cora, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Yarico, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Hodson, G.A. Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Jumba, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Miami, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Womba, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Woski, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Rosa, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Green Bushes Troupe (Manchester, 49) Dramatic Definite Green Bushes Troupe (Manchester, 49)
    Harper, E.R. Harper, E.R. Minstrel Definite Harper, E.R.
    Mackney, E.W. Mackney, E.W. Minstrel Definite Mackney, E.W.
    Male and Female New York Ethiopian Serenaders Minstrel Definite Male and Female New York Ethiopian Serenaders
    Mude Dramatic Definite Mude
    Oroonoko Troupe (Manchester, 46) Dramatic Definite Oroonoko Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Oroonoko Troupe (Manchester, 46) Watson, G. Dramatic Definite Oroonoko Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Othello Troupe (Manchester-Queen's, 48) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Manchester-Queen's, 48)
    Othello Troupe (Queen's, 46) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Queen's, 46)
    Pelham, Richard Pelham, Richard W. Minstrel Definite Pelham, Richard
    Pitt, Charles Pitt, Charles Dramatic Definite Pitt, Charles
    Preston, George Dramatic Definite Preston, George
    Queen's Company Dramatic Definite Queen's Company
    Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Manchester, 46) Freeman, Dramatic Definite Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Manchester, 46) Fitzsimons, Dramatic Definite Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Slave Troupe (Manchester, 46) Dramatic Definite Slave Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Smith, Jonathan Dramatic Definite Smith, Jonathan
    Tom & Jerry Troupe (Manchester, 47) Dramatic Definite Tom & Jerry Troupe (Manchester, 47)
    Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Manchester, 52) Dramatic Definite Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Manchester, 52)

    Events at Queen's Theatre

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Othello Troupe (Manchester-Queen's, 48)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Barlow, W.R.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Manchester, 52)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Manchester, 52)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Manchester, 52)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Egan, F.B.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Brooke, G.V.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Variety - Manchester, Lancashire Pelham, Richard
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Mackney, E.W.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Dillon, Charles
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Queen's Company
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Dillon, Charles
    Minstrel Show - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Othello Troupe (Queen's, 46)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Brooke, G.V.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Oroonoko Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Minstrel Show - Manchester, Lancashire Male and Female New York Ethiopian Serenaders
    Minstrel Show - Manchester, Lancashire Male and Female New York Ethiopian Serenaders
    Minstrel Show - Manchester, Lancashire Male and Female New York Ethiopian Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire 'Tahiti' Troupe (Queen's, 47)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Betty, Henry
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Green Bushes Troupe (Manchester, 49)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Dillon, Charles
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Benson, Wood
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Mude
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Bentley, T.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Preston, George
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Betty, Henry
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Betty, Henry
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Harper, E.R.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Smith, Jonathan
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Slave Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Brooke, G.V.
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Bounce! Troupe (Manchester, 46)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Female American Serenaders
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Tom & Jerry Troupe (Manchester, 47)
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Pitt, Charles
    Dramatic - Manchester, Lancashire Aldridge, Ira

    Bibliographic Sources

    • Theatrical Journal (London) May 23, 1850: 166:2.


    • ”Address - Spring Gardens, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England

      Manchester’s first Theatre Royal was built by forty subscribers ‘as an antidote to prevailing religious excess’. A picture shows a typical ‘Theatric Tourist’ Georgian theatre. It burned to the ground in 1789 and was replaced with the insurance money. Known as the New Theatre Royal until 1807, it ceded its status to the Theatre Royal, Fountain Street, and was renamed ‘New Amphitheatre’ in 1809. It was a plain brick building 102ft long by 48ft wide: a small theatre with pit, gallery and boxes. The side boxes ran parallel to the exterior walls, with front boxes curving round in an ellipse. The proscenium consisted of ‘six Corinthian pillars’. Its turbulent history was due to the loss of Royal Patent and frequent changes of ownership. Enjoying a revival in 1844 when the Theatre Royal in Fountain Street burned down, a period of mounting competition ensued when the Theatre Royal in Peter Street opened. It closed in March 1869 and was demolished some months later when the spring (after which Spring Gardens was named) was found some 15ft below the stage.

      Other names - Theatre Royal, New Theatre Royal, New Amphitheatre (Bradbury’s), New Pavilion, Royal Minor Theatre.”