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Royal Amphitheatre/Royal Adelphi Theatre

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Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Overview

  • Address: Blonk Street, facing the Cattle Market, Sheffield. For a current map, Click Here.

  • Alternate Names: Prior to 1848, the venue was referred to as the Circus and the Circus & Theatre, Cattle Market, in addition to the Royal Amphitheatre. After 1848, it was known as the Adelphi or the Royal Adelphi Theatre, and – more rarely – as the Theatre Royal, Cattle Market.

  • Performance Space Description: Very little information about this venue has yet been located. An 1848 article in The Sheffield Independent, however, does provide some insight into both the (then) newly renovated Royal Adelphi and the earlier Circus which once stood on the site. It reads: “Considerable alterations have been made in the pit, and the middle of that hitherto dreary space is now fitted up with seats, and protected from the cold by a close screen. By an admirable contrivance, the pit may be enlarged at pleasure. In its contracted state, a considerable number of persons may be comfortably seated; and if thrown open to the full size, hundreds more might find good accommodation. A new orchestra has also been constructed, and the whole house seems to wear a clean and lively, though yet unfinished, appearance. There is nothing striking or novel in the way of decoration; but in other respects, considerable efforts have evidently been made to render the place more worthy of public patronage” (September 30, 1848).

  • Typical Fare: According to contemporary sources reviewed in the Kathleen Barker Collection, this venue specialized in Circus-like variety entertainments and popular dramas during the early 1840s. Following its reconstruction later in the decade, the venue hosted a range of dramatic entertainments (including productions of Shakespeare), as well as exhibitions of ‘exotic’ peoples, and performances by dancers and singers.

    • Performance History

  • The building on this site served as a Circus during the early 1840s. It was reconstructed according to plans by “Messrs. Harrison” c. 1848, and subsequently referred to as a theatre (Sheffield Independent, September 30, 1848; quoted in Kathleen Barker Collection).

    Please see the 'Bibliographic Sources' link at right for a complete listing of materials (both primary and secondary) from which the above information was compiled.

    Beth Marquis

    • Troupes at Royal Amphitheatre/Royal Adelphi Theatre

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    American Southern Minstrels Minstrel Definite American Southern Minstrels
    Barlow, W.R. Barlow, W.R. Minstrel Definite Barlow, W.R.
    Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 50) Circus Definite Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
    Bosjesmans Exhibition Definite Bosjesmans
    Brooke, G.V. Brooke, G.V. Dramatic Definite Brooke, G.V.
    Brown, Henry Box Lecture Definite Brown, Henry Box
    Charles, E.M. Dramatic Definite Charles, E.M.
    Creole Troupe (Sheffield, 48) Dramatic Definite Creole Troupe (Sheffield, 48)
    Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 48) Dramatic Definite Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 48)
    Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 50) Dramatic Definite Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
    Grisdale, Walter Grisdale, Walter Dramatic Definite Grisdale, Walter
    Infant Juba, The Juba, Infant Minstrel Definite Infant Juba, The
    Lacy, T.H. Dramatic Definite Lacy, T.H.
    Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
    Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Pitt, Charles Pitt, Charles Dramatic Definite Pitt, Charles
    Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49) Lightfoot, Dramatic Definite Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
    Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49) Dramatic Definite Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
    Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49) Parsloe, Dramatic Definite Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
    Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49) Sykes, Dramatic Definite Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
    Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 52) Dramatic Definite Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Slave's Revenge Troupe (Sheffield, 44) Dramatic Definite Slave's Revenge Troupe (Sheffield, 44)
    Sweeney, J.W. Sweeney, J.W. Minstrel Definite Sweeney, J.W.
    Teasdale, Harvey Teasdale, Harvey Dramatic Definite Teasdale, Harvey
    Tyler, J.S. Tyler, J.S. Lecture Definite Tyler, J.S.
    Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Sheffield, 52) Dramatic Definite Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Yankee Dalton Minstrel Definite Yankee Dalton
    Yankee Hughes Minstrel Definite Yankee Hughes

    Events at Royal Amphitheatre/Royal Adelphi Theatre

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding American Southern Minstrels
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding American Southern Minstrels
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Barlow, W.R.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Slave's Revenge Troupe (Sheffield, 44)
    Circus - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Sweeney, J.W.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 48)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 48)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Brooke, G.V.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Brooke, G.V.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Charles, E.M.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Robinson Crusoe Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Bosjesmans
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Teasdale, Harvey
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Tyler, J.S.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Bosjesmans
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Tyler, J.S.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Teasdale, Harvey
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Infant Juba, The
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Infant Juba, The
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Infant Juba, The
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Infant Juba, The
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Grisdale, Walter
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Pitt, Charles
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
    Vocal Entertainment - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Brown, Henry Box
    Vocal Entertainment - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Brown, Henry Box
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Yankee Dalton
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Yankee Hughes
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Lacy, T.H.
    Dramatic - Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding Creole Troupe (Sheffield, 48)

    Bibliographic Sources