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Royal Standard Theatre

Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Overview

  • Address: 203-204 High Street, Shoreditch. For a current map, Click Here. For historical maps showing the venue (in addition to the one excerpted at right), Click Here and Here.

  • Alternate Names: Standard Theatre, National Standard 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 Royal Standard Theatre

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    Betty, Henry Betty, Henry Dramatic Definite Betty, Henry
    Black Caesar Troupe (London-Standard, 51) Dramatic Definite Black Caesar Troupe (London-Standard, 51)
    De Bar De Bar, Minstrel Definite De Bar
    Ethiopian Serenaders (1851) Pell, Gilbert W. Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Serenaders (1851)
    Ethiopian Serenaders (1851) Ledger, B. Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Serenaders (1851)
    Ethiopian Serenaders (1851) Barlow, W.R. Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Serenaders (1851)
    Ethiopian Serenaders (1851) De Brenner, Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Serenaders (1851)
    Foulah Slave Troupe (London-Standard, 48) Dramatic Definite Foulah Slave Troupe (London-Standard, 48)
    Hicks, T. Hicks, T. Dramatic Definite Hicks, T.
    Honner Dramatic Definite Honner
    Juba Dancer Minstrel Definite Juba Dancer
    Lantum Serenaders Adwin, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Laurain, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Dryce, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Marley, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Stainer, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Murphy, J., The American Jumbo Murphy (Jumbo), J. Minstrel Definite Murphy, J., The American Jumbo
    Nigger Nathan Nathan, Nigger Minstrel Definite Nigger Nathan
    Numbo Jumbo Jumbo, Numbo Minstrel Definite Numbo Jumbo
    Oliver Dramatic Definite Oliver
    Othello Troupe (London-Standard, 51) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (London-Standard, 51)
    Squashee Minstrel Definite Squashee
    Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (London-Standard, 52) Dramatic Definite Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (London-Standard, 52)

    Events at Royal Standard Theatre

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (London-Standard, 52)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (London-Standard, 52)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Oliver
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Hicks, T.
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Betty, Henry
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Juba Dancer
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Juba Dancer
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Numbo Jumbo
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Foulah Slave Troupe (London-Standard, 48)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) De Bar
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Squashee
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Murphy, J., The American Jumbo
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Squashee
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Murphy, J., The American Jumbo
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Honner
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Honner
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Othello Troupe (London-Standard, 51)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Black Caesar Troupe (London-Standard, 51)
    Variety - London, London (city-county) Ethiopian Serenaders (1851)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Nigger Nathan
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Hicks, T.

    Bibliographic Sources

    • London: The Library Association, 1970
      pp.222-4 (under Shoreditch Olympia).
    • Hamden, Connecticut: Archon Books, 1981
      p.91 (under Shoreditch Olympia).
    • (Under Entertainment - Theatre & Shows - Theatres & Venues - Standard Theatre)
    • Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2001
    • London: Adam and Charles Black, 1863


      “STANDARD THEATRE, Shoreditch, opposite the Eastern Counties Railway station. Melodramas and nautical pieces are principally performed here” (215).
    • Leipsic: Karl Baedeker, 1885


      ”NATIONAL STANDARD THEATRE, 204 Shoreditch High Street. Popular pieces” (39).
    • London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1868


      “STANDARD THEATRE, Shoreditch, occupies the site of the former theatre, burnt Oct. 28, 1866, and is larger than any one in London, excepting the Italian Opera-house, Covent Garden. […]” (787)

      Also gives the theatre’s capacity (in 1866) as 2000 (789)
    • London: H.G. Clarke & Co., 1851


      “GREAT NATIONAL STANDARD THEATRE, Shoreditch. A large and elegant theatre, capable of containing four thousand and three hundred persons, rebuilt in 1850, from designs by Mr. John Douglass, and opened October 19th, having many improvements in its interior arrangements, evidently suggested by a desire to do every thing that is possible, in order to afford both convenience to the audience, and accommodation for the somewhat ambitious nature of the performances. What the Adelphi Theatre, from its situation is to the Strand and the West End, this house is to Shoreditch and the East End; standing as it does in a leading thoroughfare, directly opposite the terminus of the Eastern Counties Railway, and in the midst of a dense neighbourhood, it is nightly filled to overflowing, and while the prices are such as to meet the wants of its patrons, the aim of the management would seem to be that of giving a superior style of entertainment, a course, which if resolutely persevered in, must ultimately raise this theatre in public estimation, and redound to the permanent advantage of the proprietor. Lessee Mr. John Douglass, formerly lessee of the Marylebone Theatre, who has collected around him an excellent working company amongst whom may be named the lessee himself, Mr. Lyon, Mr. W. Cowle, Mr. Joseph Rayner, and Mr. R. Honner; and Mrs. Cowle, Miss S. Leslie, and Mrs. R. Honner. Doors open at a quarter past six o clock; performances commence at a quarter before seven. Admission: private boxes, two shillings; dress circle, one shilling and sixpence; lower circle, one shilling; pit stalls, eightpence; pit, sixpence; gallery, fourpence; upper gallery, threepence” (221).