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Royal Victoria Theatre

Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Overview

  • Address: Waterloo Bridge Road, Lambeth. (at the connection of junction of Waterloo Road & the New Cut.) For a current map, Click Here. For historical maps showing the venue (in addition to the one excerpted at right), Click Here, Here, and Here.

  • Alternate Names: the Cobourg, Victoria Theatre, The Old Vic

  • 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 Victoria Theatre

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Seaman, Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Terry, Miss E. Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Lee, Mrs. G. Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Richardson, Miss Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Edgar, Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Searle, W, Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Dale, Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Johnson, J.T. Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Higgie, T.H. Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Jones, Ersser Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Andrews, Miss Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Edgar , Miss Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45) Greville, Miss Dramatic Definite Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Aldobrand and Sons Aldobrand, Circus Definite Aldobrand and Sons
    Aldobrand and Sons Aldobrand (son 1), Circus Definite Aldobrand and Sons
    Aldobrand and Sons Aldobrand (son 2), Circus Definite Aldobrand and Sons
    Bird, C.J. Bird, C.J. Dramatic Definite Bird, C.J.
    Black Caesar Troupe (London-Vic, 52) Lee, Mrs. G. Dramatic Definite Black Caesar Troupe (London-Vic, 52)
    Black Caesar Troupe (London-Vic, 52) Harrison, R. Dramatic Definite Black Caesar Troupe (London-Vic, 52)
    Black Doctor Troupe (London-Victoria, 47) Dramatic Definite Black Doctor Troupe (London-Victoria, 47)
    Boatmen Ballet Troupe (London-Victoria, 51) Ballet Definite Boatmen Ballet Troupe (London-Victoria, 51)
    Ceda (1848) Ceda, William Minstrel Definite Ceda (1848)
    Cherokee Chief Troupe (London-Victoria, 45) Dramatic Definite Cherokee Chief Troupe (London-Victoria, 45)
    Cullen Dramatic Definite Cullen
    Dunn, John, the British Jim Crow Dunn, John Minstrel Definite Dunn, John, the British Jim Crow
    Edwards, E. Edwards, E. Dramatic Definite Edwards, E.
    Graham, R.E. Graham, R.E. Dramatic Definite Graham, R.E.
    Hicks, T. Hicks, T. Dramatic Definite Hicks, T.
    Howard, J. Howard, J. Dramatic Definite Howard, J.
    Lion & the Unicorn Troupe (London-Victoria, 1852) Dramatic Definite Lion & the Unicorn Troupe (London-Victoria, 1852)
    Otway Otway, Dramatic Definite Otway
    Paul Paul, Dramatic Definite Paul
    Saville, E.F. Saville, Edmund Dramatic Definite Saville, E.F.
    Tom & Jerry Dance Troupe (London-Vic, 44) Bridgman, S.J. Minstrel Definite Tom & Jerry Dance Troupe (London-Vic, 44)
    Tom & Jerry Dance Troupe (London-Vic, 44) Caine, Master Minstrel Definite Tom & Jerry Dance Troupe (London-Vic, 44)
    Tom & Jerry Troupe (London-Vic, 42) Scarbrow, Dramatic Definite Tom & Jerry Troupe (London-Vic, 42)
    Tremont Serenaders Sambo (Tremont Serenaders), Minstrel Definite Tremont Serenaders
    Tremont Serenaders Minstrel Definite Tremont Serenaders
    Vincent, Miss Vincent, Miss Dramatic Definite Vincent, Miss
    Virginian Harmonists (1848) Minstrel Definite Virginian Harmonists (1848)

    Events at Royal Victoria Theatre

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Lion & the Unicorn Troupe (London-Victoria, 1852)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Howard, J.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Graham, R.E.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Saville, E.F.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Vincent, Miss
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Dunn, John, the British Jim Crow
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Otway
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Africans Troupe (London-Vic, 45)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Edwards, E.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Paul
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Saville, E.F.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Tom & Jerry Dance Troupe (London-Vic, 44)
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Dunn, John, the British Jim Crow
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Hicks, T.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Ceda (1848)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Virginian Harmonists (1848)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Cherokee Chief Troupe (London-Victoria, 45)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Bird, C.J.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Black Caesar Troupe (London-Vic, 52)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Black Doctor Troupe (London-Victoria, 47)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Black Doctor Troupe (London-Victoria, 47)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Tom & Jerry Troupe (London-Vic, 42)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Vincent, Miss
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Vincent, Miss
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Tom & Jerry Troupe (London-Vic, 42)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Cullen
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Aldobrand and Sons
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Saville, E.F.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Boatmen Ballet Troupe (London-Victoria, 51)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Howard, J.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Tremont Serenaders
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Hicks, T.

    Bibliographic Sources

    • Weekly Chronicle (London) July 23, 1848: 8.
    • London: The Library Association, 1970
      pp.163-5.
    • Hamden, Connecticut: Archon Books, 1981
      p.90.
    • (Under Entertainment - Theatre & Shows - Theatres & Venues - The Vic)
    • Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2001
    • London: Adam and Charles Black, 1863


      “VICTORIA THEATRE, Waterloo Bridge Road, Lambeth, originally styled ‘the Cobourg,’ from the first stone having been laid in the name of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg, 1817. Some of the stones from the old Savoy Palace was employed in its construction. The name was changed to its present form in 1833, and the Queen, then the Princess Victoria, visited the house. The gallery is very large” (215).
    • London: H.G. Clarke & Co., 1851


      “VICTORIA THEATRE, New Cut, Lambeth, was commenced in 1816; the first stone having been laid by Alderman Goodbehere, as proxy for the Prince and Princess of Saxe-Cobourg; it was opened in 1818, and originally called the Cobourg Theatre. It is a large and commodious edifice without any architectural display” (128-9).
    • London: John Murray, 1851


      ”The VICTORIA THEATRE is in WATERLOO BRIDGE ROAD, LAMBETH. It was originally The Coburg, and called The Victoria for the first time soon after the accession of William IV,. when her present Majesty was only heir presumptive to the crown. The gallery at the ‘Vic’ (for such is its brief cognomen about Lambeth) is one of the largest in London. It will hold from 1500 to 2000 people, and runs back to so great a distance, that the end of it is lost in shadow, excepting where the little gas-jets, against the wall, light up the two or three faces around them. When the gallery is well packed, it is usual to see piles of boys on each others’ shoulders at the back, while on the partition-boards dividing off the slips, lads will pitch themselves despite the spikes” (179).
    • London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1868


      “VICTORIA THEATRE, New Cut, Lambeth, was originally named ‘the Cobourg,’ from the first stone having been laid by proxy for Prince Leopold of Sase-Cobourg, Oct. 15, 1817: it has in its foundation part of the stone of the old Savoy Palace. The theatre was designed by Cabanel, a carpenter from Liege, who also constructed the stage of old Drury-lanc Theatre, and invented a roof known by his name. The Cobourg Theatre was first opened May 13, 1818: for its repertoire, Clarkson Stanfield, subsequently R.A., painted scenery; and here was constructed a looking-glass curtain, of large plates of glass, enclosed in a gilt frame. The house was leased to Egerton and Abbott in 1833, when the name was changed to ‘Victoria,’ and the Princess (her present Majesty) visited the theatre” (788).

      Also gives the theatre’s capacity (in 1866) as 2000 (789)
    • London: David Bogue, 1855
      p721.

      The information provided within this source is much the same as that given within the 1868 edition of the book.
    • London: H.G. Clarke & Co., 1851


      The information provided within this source is similar to that given within London in all its Glory, also published by H.G. Clarke, & Co.

      In addition, this source also contains the following:
      “It was at this theatre, in its earlier days, that the fine taste, and eminent talents of Clarkson Stanfield, were first introduced to public notice. The present lessee is Mr. Osbaldiston, and the pieces produced are melo-dramatic pieces of the lowest character. The gallery is the largest in London, and is well worth viewing from the slips, at the end of the first piece, if the theatre is well filled; the numbers occupying it, their state of undress, and varied occupation, forming a very striking picture, particularly when viewed for the first time. Lessee, Mr Osbaldiston. Doors open at six o’clock; performances commence at half-past six. Admission: boxes, one shilling; pit, sixpence; gallery, threepence. Second price at nine o clock: boxes, sixpence” (219).
    • Chapter 30 ('Lambeth - Introduction and the transpontine theatres'.)
    • London: Griffin, Bohn & Co, 1861