Theatre Royal, Sheffield

Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Overview

Address: Tudour Street, Sheffield. (also listed as “in Arundel-street and Norfolk-street” in William White’s General Directory of 1845 [15, quoted in Kathleen Barker Collection]. For a current map, Click Here.

Alternate Names: Theatre and Assembly Rooms; Theatre, Tudour Street.

Performance Space Description: The Sheffield Directory and Guide of 1828 notes that the Theatre and the local Assembly Rooms were “part of the same extensive pile of brick building” (lxii). This complex, the author maintains, presented “a striking front, relieved by stone pillars and a handsome pediment towards Norfolk street” (ibid). As yet, little information about the performance space itself has been found (although details pertaining to the later, Frank Matcham designed version of the theatre can be found on the Arthur Lloyd site).

Typical Fare: Between 1842 and 1852, the Theatre Royal presented all manner of dramatic fare – from tragedy and comedy to melodrama, farce and pantomime. On occasion, its stage was also used for vocal entertainments and concerts.

Performance History

The Theatre Royal was built in 1773, using funds raised by shareholders. It was enlarged and reconstructed several times over the course of its history, and was redesigned for the last time by Frank Matcham in 1901.

The building was destroyed by fire in December, 1935, and completely demolished shortly thereafter.

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
Additional research by Paul Babiak

Troupes at Theatre Royal, Sheffield

Film	Affiliated people	Film Type	# of event(s)
Aldridge, Ira	Aldridge, Ira	Dramatic	Definite Aldridge, Ira
Amateur Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)		Dramatic	Definite Amateur Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Anderson, James	Anderson, James	Dramatic	Definite Anderson, James
Barker, Joseph	Barker, Joseph	Lecture	Definite Barker, Joseph
Barry	Barry, T.	Dramatic	Definite Barry
Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)	Hughes, Miss M.	Dramatic	Definite Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)
Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)		Dramatic	Definite Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)
Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 50)		Circus	Definite Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 51)		Dramatic	Definite Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 51)
Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 52)		Dramatic	Definite Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Brooke, G.V.	Brooke, G.V.	Dramatic	Definite Brooke, G.V.
Castle Spectre Troupe (Sheffield, 45-46)		Dramatic	Definite Castle Spectre Troupe (Sheffield, 45-46)
Corsair Troupe (Sheffield, 52)		Dramatic	Definite Corsair Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Creole Troupe (Sheffield, 52)		Dramatic	Definite Creole Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Dillon, Charles	Dillon, Charles	Dramatic	Definite Dillon, Charles
Donaldson	Donaldson,	Vocal Entertainment	Definite Donaldson
Douglass, Frederick	Douglass, Frederick	Lecture	Definite Douglass, Frederick
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	Cora,	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
Fitzwilliam, Mrs.	Fitzwilliam, Mrs.	Dramatic	Definite Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
Forrest	Forrest, Edwin	Dramatic	Definite Forrest
Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 50)		Dramatic	Definite Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 51)		Dramatic	Definite Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 51)
Hammond, W.J.	Hammond, W.J.	Dramatic	Definite Hammond, W.J.
Indian Drum Troupe (Sheffield, 45)	Bland,	Vocal Entertainment	Definite Indian Drum Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Indian Drum Troupe (Sheffield, 45)	Hartley,	Vocal Entertainment	Definite Indian Drum Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Indian Drum Troupe (Sheffield, 45)	McMahon,	Vocal Entertainment	Definite Indian Drum Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Lacy, T.H.		Dramatic	Definite Lacy, T.H.
Lion of Africa Troupe (Sheffield, 48)		Dramatic	Definite Lion of Africa Troupe (Sheffield, 48)
Mackney, E.W.	Mackney, E.W.	Minstrel	Definite Mackney, E.W.
Macready	Macready,	Dramatic	Definite Macready
Mude		Dramatic	Definite Mude
My Poll Troupe (Sheffield, 45)		Dramatic	Definite My Poll Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Negro Entertainment Troupe (Sheffield, 44)		Minstrel	Definite Negro Entertainment Troupe (Sheffield, 44)
New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders	Sanford,	Minstrel	Definite New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders	Swaine,	Minstrel	Definite New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders	Burke,	Minstrel	Definite New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders	Ole Bull jun.,	Minstrel	Definite New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders	Rainer,	Minstrel	Definite New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
O-Jib-Bway Indians	Maung-Gwud Daus,	Exhibition	Definite O-Jib-Bway Indians
Obi Troupe (Sheffield, 45)		Dramatic	Definite Obi Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 43)		Dramatic	Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 43)
Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 45)		Dramatic	Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 46)		Dramatic	Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 46)
Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 47)		Dramatic	Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 47)
Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 49)		Dramatic	Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)		Dramatic	Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52)		Dramatic	Definite Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Othello/Obi Troupe (Sheffield, 1842)		Dramatic	Definite Othello/Obi Troupe (Sheffield, 1842)
Revenge Troupe (Sheffield, 1843)		Dramatic	Definite Revenge Troupe (Sheffield, 1843)
Russell, Henry	Russell, Henry	Vocal Entertainment	Definite Russell, Henry
Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 43)		Dramatic	Definite Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 43)
Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 45)	Garthwaite, Miss	Dramatic	Definite Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 45)		Dramatic	Definite Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 46)		Dramatic	Definite Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 46)
Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 49)	Diddear,	Dramatic	Definite Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 49)		Dramatic	Definite Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
Smith, Henry	Smith, Henry	Vocal Entertainment	Definite Smith, Henry
Smythson, M.		Dramatic	Definite Smythson, M.
Ternan	Ternan,	Dramatic	Definite Ternan
Unknown Minstrel Troupe (Sheffield, 45)		Minstrel	Definite Unknown Minstrel Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Ware		Minstrel	Definite Ware

Events at Theatre Royal, Sheffield

Event	Date	Venue Location	Film
Dramatic	05 Dec. 1842 -05 Dec. 1842	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello/Obi Troupe (Sheffield, 1842)
Dramatic	03 Jan. 1843 -03 Jan. 1843	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Revenge Troupe (Sheffield, 1843)
Dramatic	09 May. 1842 -09 May. 1842	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Aldridge, Ira
Dramatic	11 May. 1842 -11 May. 1842	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Aldridge, Ira
Dramatic	13 May. 1842 -13 May. 1842	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Aldridge, Ira
Dramatic	25 Nov. 1841 -25 Nov. 1841	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Aldridge, Ira
Dramatic	26 Nov. 1841 -26 Nov. 1841	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Aldridge, Ira
Dramatic	22 Nov. 1841 -22 Nov. 1841	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Aldridge, Ira
Dramatic	23 Nov. 1841 -23 Nov. 1841	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Aldridge, Ira
Minstrel Show	16 Apr. 1846 -17 Apr. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Russell, Henry
Dramatic	24 Jan. 1846 -24 Jan. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Forrest
Dramatic	30 Jan. 1846 -30 Jan. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Forrest
Minstrel Show	20 Sep. 1847 -23 Sep. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
Minstrel Show	04 Oct. 1852 -08 Oct. 1852	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Russell, Henry
Dramatic	24 Jan. 1843 -24 Jan. 1843	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Ternan
Dramatic	15 Nov. 1843 -15 Nov. 1843	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 43)
Dramatic	14 Dec. 1843 -14 Dec. 1843	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 43)
Dramatic	13 Jan. 1845 -17 Jan. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
Dramatic	28 Jan. 1845 -28 Jan. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Lacy, T.H.
Dramatic	27 Mar. 1845 -27 Mar. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Obi Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Dramatic	31 Mar. 1845 -31 Mar. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Dramatic	31 Mar. 1845 -31 Mar. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Indian Drum Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Dramatic	18 Nov. 1845 -18 Nov. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Mude
Dramatic	22 Nov. 1845 -22 Nov. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Brooke, G.V.
Dramatic	28 Nov. 1845 -28 Nov. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Dramatic	11 Dec. 1845 -11 Dec. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Unknown Minstrel Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Dramatic	27 Dec. 1845 -27 Dec. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Castle Spectre Troupe (Sheffield, 45-46)
Dramatic	07 Feb. 1846 -07 Feb. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Castle Spectre Troupe (Sheffield, 45-46)
Dramatic	09 Mar. 1846 -11 Mar. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
Dramatic	12 Mar. 1846 -13 Mar. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
Dramatic	27 Mar. 1846 -27 Mar. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Hammond, W.J.
Exhibition	18 May. 1846 -23 May. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	O-Jib-Bway Indians
Dramatic	13 Oct. 1846 -14 Oct. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 46)
Dramatic	22 Oct. 1846 -22 Oct. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 46)
Dramatic	04 Nov. 1846 -04 Nov. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 46)
Dramatic	09 Nov. 1846 -09 Nov. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
Dramatic	10 Nov. 1846 -10 Nov. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
Dramatic	11 Nov. 1846 -13 Nov. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Fitzwilliam, Mrs.
Dramatic	27 Nov. 1846 -27 Nov. 1846	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 46)
Lecture	16 Mar. 1847 -17 Mar. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Barker, Joseph
Lecture	25 Mar. 1847 -25 Mar. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Douglass, Frederick
Dramatic	06 Apr. 1847 -06 Apr. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 47)
Dramatic	22 Apr. 1847 -22 Apr. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Donaldson
Vocal Entertainment	10 May. 1847 -12 May. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Russell, Henry
Minstrel Show	17 May. 1847 -19 May. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
Dramatic	11 Oct. 1847 -15 Oct. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)
Dramatic	11 Oct. 1847 -15 Oct. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Dillon, Charles
Dramatic	11 Oct. 1847 -15 Oct. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Barry
Dramatic	18 Oct. 1847 -18 Oct. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)
Dramatic	15 Nov. 1847 -17 Nov. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Female American Serenaders
Dramatic	24 Nov. 1847 -24 Nov. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 47)
Dramatic	02 Dec. 1847 -02 Dec. 1847	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)
Dramatic	17 Jan. 1848 -17 Jan. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Macready
Dramatic	18 Jan. 1848 -18 Jan. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)
Dramatic	24 Jan. 1848 -28 Jan. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
Dramatic	17 Feb. 1848 -17 Feb. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 47-48)
Dramatic	02 Mar. 1848 -02 Mar. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Smith, Henry
Dramatic	07 Mar. 1848 -07 Mar. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Lion of Africa Troupe (Sheffield, 48)
Minstrel Show	10 Apr. 1848 -15 Apr. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
Dramatic	26 Oct. 1848 -26 Oct. 1848	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Smythson, M.
Dramatic	10 Jan. 1849 -10 Jan. 1849	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Anderson, James
Dramatic	01 Feb. 1849 -01 Feb. 1849	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
Dramatic	06 Feb. 1849 -06 Feb. 1849	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Slave Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
Dramatic	04 Dec. 1849 -04 Dec. 1849	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 49)
Dramatic	24 Jan. 1850 -24 Jan. 1850	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Macready
Dramatic	11 Mar. 1850 -11 Mar. 1850	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Dramatic	05 Aug. 1850 -05 Aug. 1850	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Brooke, G.V.
Dramatic	11 Nov. 1850 -12 Nov. 1850	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Dramatic	18 Nov. 1850 -18 Nov. 1850	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Amateur Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Dramatic	06 Dec. 1850 -06 Dec. 1850	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Dramatic	20 Dec. 1850 -20 Dec. 1850	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 50)
Dramatic	22 Jan. 1851 -22 Jan. 1851	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Green Bushes Troupe (Sheffield, 51)
Dramatic	12 Feb. 1851 -12 Feb. 1851	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Mackney, E.W.
Vocal Entertainment	29 Sep. 1851 -03 Oct. 1851	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Russell, Henry
Dramatic	10 Dec. 1851 -10 Dec. 1851	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 51)
Dramatic	06 Jan. 1852 -06 Jan. 1852	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Dramatic	03 Feb. 1852 -03 Feb. 1852	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Dramatic	14 Feb. 1852 -14 Feb. 1852	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Black Doctor Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Dramatic	20 Feb. 1852 -20 Feb. 1852	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Creole Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Dramatic	23 Feb. 1852 -23 Feb. 1852	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Corsair Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Dramatic	09 Dec. 1852 -09 Dec. 1852	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Othello Troupe (Sheffield, 52)
Dramatic	03 Sep. 1849 -03 Sep. 1849	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Dillon, Charles
Dramatic	05 Nov. 1849 -05 Nov. 1849	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Dillon, Charles
Dramatic	09 Dec. 1851 -10 Dec. 1851	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Dillon, Charles
Dramatic	11 Nov. 1844 -11 Nov. 1844	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Negro Entertainment Troupe (Sheffield, 44)
Dramatic	20 Jan. 1845 -20 Jan. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	My Poll Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Dramatic	20 Jan. 1845 -20 Jan. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Ware
Dramatic	22 Jan. 1845 -22 Jan. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	My Poll Troupe (Sheffield, 45)
Dramatic	07 Mar. 1845 -07 Mar. 1845	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Macready
Dramatic	02 Feb. 1849 -02 Feb. 1849	Sheffield, Yorkshire: West Riding	Mude

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

(Under More Provincial Theatres - Sheffield)
(A search for ‘Theatre Royal' will turn up several interesting images
Sheffield: John Blackwell, 1828
East Ardsley, Wakefield: EP Publishing Limited, 1978

The JUBA Project
Early Blackface Minstrelsy in Britain 1842-1852