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Theatre Royal, Newcastle

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Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Overview

  • Address: 100 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. Click here for map.

  • Capacity: Information from 1844 suggests that the Theatre could hold 1589 spectators. The current building seats 1294.

  • Performance Space Description: The Theatre Royal was (and is) a grand, monumental building in the classical style. The Theatres Trust site describes the exterior of the building (still extant) as follows: “The symmetrical face is dominated by a portico of giant Corinthian pilasters at the angles repeated round each corner. Restrained three-stored [sic] side elevations with an attic above the cornice”. For additional architectural details, see the Images of England Listing Here.

    In terms of the performance space itself, the original interior of the building seems to have been modeled closely on the space at Drury Lane. The theatre featured a proscenium stage, which, according to the Theatres Trust site, measured 26 and a half deep by 53 feet wide, with a proscenium width of 29 and a half feet (in 1844).

  • Typical Fare: Between 1842 and 1852, the theatre offered all manner of dramatic entertainments. Alongside numerous productions of Shakespeare, bills often featured domestic melodramas, farces, pantomimes and operatic dramas. Vocalists, dancers, variety entertainers (a la Tom Thumb) and musicians frequently performed between dramatic pieces as well.

    • Performance History

  • The Grey Street theatre was built 1837, to replace the previous Theatre Royal on Mosely Street. According to the Theatre Royal’s website, “the original Theatre Royal obstructed the plans for a bold and adventurous building development by Richard Grainger. A deal was struck between the Theatre Royal proprietors and Mr. Grainger, on the understanding that, along with a hefty compensation fee for the closure of the old theatre, a new and larger Theatre Royal would be constructed.” The Grey Street building was the result. (See Newcastle - Past and Present for further information).
  • The new theatre was built according to the design of John & Benjamin Green. It opened (with a production of The Merchant of Venice) on February 20th, 1837.

  • In 1895, the entire interior of the building was redesigned by architects Walter Emden & W. Lister Newcombe. Within a year, however, the building was ravaged by fire and this new auditorium was destroyed.

  • The auditorium was then rebuilt according to designs by Frank Matcham in 1901. The theatre still exists, largely in this form, today. It is a fully operational, Grade 1 listed theatre facility.

    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 Theatre Royal, Newcastle

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    Aldridge, Ira Aldridge, Ira Dramatic Definite Aldridge, Ira
    Anderson, James Anderson, James Dramatic Definite Anderson, James
    Bennett, James Bennett, James Dramatic Definite Bennett, James
    Bosjesmans Exhibition Definite Bosjesmans
    Bull, F.G. Band Definite Bull, F.G.
    Bull, Peter M. Band Definite Bull, Peter M.
    Calhaen, F. Calhaen, F. Dramatic Definite Calhaen, F.
    Castle Spectre Troupe (Newcastle, 43) Dramatic Definite Castle Spectre Troupe (Newcastle, 43)
    Castle Spectre Troupe (Newcastle, 46) Dramatic Definite Castle Spectre Troupe (Newcastle, 46)
    Chippewa Indians Exhibition Definite Chippewa Indians
    Creole Troupe (Newcastle, 48) Dramatic Definite Creole Troupe (Newcastle, 48)
    Davenport, J.L. Dramatic Definite Davenport, J.L.
    Davis, S. Dramatic Definite Davis, S.
    Ethiopian Serenaders, from Astleys (47) Minstrel Definite Ethiopian Serenaders, from Astleys (47)
    Forde, Norton Dramatic Definite Forde, Norton
    Hall, H. Hall, H. Dramatic Definite Hall, H.
    Macready Macready, Dramatic Definite Macready
    Mary Blane Troupe (Newcastle, 49) Dramatic Definite Mary Blane Troupe (Newcastle, 49)
    Mary Blane Troupe (Newcastle, 51) Dramatic Definite Mary Blane Troupe (Newcastle, 51)
    Mistaken Story Troupe (Newcastle, 52) Dramatic Definite Mistaken Story Troupe (Newcastle, 52)
    Mungo Park Troupe (Newcastle, 49) Dramatic Definite Mungo Park Troupe (Newcastle, 49)
    No Troupe Definite No Troupe
    Ormonde, Alfred Dramatic Definite Ormonde, Alfred
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 43) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 43)
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 44) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 44)
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 46) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 46)
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 47) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 47)
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 48) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 48)
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 49) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 49)
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 50) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 50)
    Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 51) Dramatic Definite Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 51)
    Othello...Act of Parliament Troupe (Newcastle, 42) Dramatic Definite Othello...Act of Parliament Troupe (Newcastle, 42)
    Pitt, Charles Pitt, Charles Dramatic Definite Pitt, Charles
    Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 42) Dramatic Definite Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 42)
    Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 47) Ponisi, Mrs. Dramatic Definite Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 47)
    Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 51) Dramatic Definite Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 51)
    Swinbourne Dramatic Definite Swinbourne
    Ternan Ternan, Dramatic Definite Ternan
    Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Newcastle, 52-3) Dramatic Definite Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Newcastle, 52-3)
    Wentworth, Butler Wentworth, Butler Dramatic Definite Wentworth, Butler

    Events at Theatre Royal, Newcastle

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 49)
    Opera - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Calhaen, F.
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Newcastle, 52-3)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Anderson, James
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Anderson, James
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Mungo Park Troupe (Newcastle, 49)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello...Act of Parliament Troupe (Newcastle, 42)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello...Act of Parliament Troupe (Newcastle, 42)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 42)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello...Act of Parliament Troupe (Newcastle, 42)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 42)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Castle Spectre Troupe (Newcastle, 43)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 43)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 43)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Anderson, James
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Bull, F.G.
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Bull, Peter M.
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 44)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Ternan
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Macready
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Castle Spectre Troupe (Newcastle, 46)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Aldridge, Ira
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Hall, H.
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 46)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 47)
    Minstrel Show - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Ethiopian Serenaders, from Astleys (47)
    Exhibition - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Chippewa Indians
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 47)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Bennett, James
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 47)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 47)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Creole Troupe (Newcastle, 48)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Davis, S.
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Creole Troupe (Newcastle, 48)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Davis, S.
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 48)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Creole Troupe (Newcastle, 48)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Bennett, James
    Variety - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Bosjesmans
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Mary Blane Troupe (Newcastle, 49)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Swinbourne
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Ormonde, Alfred
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 50)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Macready
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 50)
    Exhibition - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle No Troupe
    Exhibition - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle No Troupe
    Exhibition - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle No Troupe
    Exhibition - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle No Troupe
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 51)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 51)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Slave Troupe (Newcastle, 51)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Wentworth, Butler
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Mary Blane Troupe (Newcastle, 51)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Davenport, J.L.
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Pitt, Charles
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Pitt, Charles
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Othello Troupe (Newcastle, 50)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Mistaken Story Troupe (Newcastle, 52)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Pitt, Charles
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Pitt, Charles
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Newcastle, 52-3)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Newcastle, 52-3)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Uncle Tom's Cabin Troupe (Newcastle, 52-3)
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Swinbourne
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Forde, Norton
    Dramatic - Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Pitt, Charles

    Bibliographic Sources

    View a list of abbreviations.

    • (Under Newcastle - Theatre Royal)
    • (Search 'Theatre Royal Newcastle')
    • (Search 'Theatre Royal')
    • Newcastle Upon Tyne: Graham, 1971