Royal Liver Theatre

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Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Site Name: Royal Liver Theatre
Location: Liverpool
County: Lancashire
Location Type: Town - in town at determined location

Overview

  • Address: 46 Church Street. For a current map, Click Here.


  • Alternate Names: Dominion of Fancy, Pantheon Theatre, Theatre Royal, Church Street


  • 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

  • Events at Royal Liver Theatre

    Event Date Venue Location Troupe
    Dramatic 16 February 1844 - 16 February 1844 Liverpool, Lancashire Phelps, General Tom Thumb
    Dramatic 17 February 1844 - 17 February 1844 Liverpool, Lancashire General Tom Thumb
    Dramatic 26 June 1845 - 26 June 1845 Liverpool, Lancashire Pitt, Charles
    Dramatic 22 September 1845 - 22 September 1845 Liverpool, Lancashire Corrie, J.
    Dramatic 11 May 1846 - 11 May 1846 Liverpool, Lancashire Three Celebrated Niggers, Taylor, H.J.
    Minstrel Show 5 October 1846 - 10 October 1846 Liverpool, Lancashire Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48)
    Minstrel Show 12 October 1846 - 17 October 1846 Liverpool, Lancashire Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48)
    Minstrel Show 19 October 1846 - 24 October 1846 Liverpool, Lancashire Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48)
    Minstrel Show 22 February 1847 - 27 February 1847 Liverpool, Lancashire New Orleans Ethiopian Serenaders
    Dramatic 19 November 1847 - 19 November 1847 Liverpool, Lancashire Hammond, W.J.
    Dramatic 22 November 1847 - 27 November 1847 Liverpool, Lancashire Bosjesmans
    Dramatic 24 May 1848 - 25 May 1848 Liverpool, Lancashire Lucy Neal Ballet Troupe (Liverpool, 48)
    Dramatic 13 November 1848 - 18 November 1848 Liverpool, Lancashire Harper, E.R.

    Bibliographic Sources

    • British Library, BL Mic. C. 13137 Playbills 245: November 19, 1847 (Liver)
    • British Library, BL Mic. C. 13137 Playbills 245: November 19, 1847 (Liver)
    • Broadbent, R.J. Annals of the Liverpool Stage. Liverpool: Edward Howell, 1908.

      pp206-215.




      THE LIVER THEATRE.
      In the latter part of the eighteenth century the site of
      the Liver Theatre was occupied by an orchard and garden,
      belonging to a Mr. Brooks, great-uncle to Rector Brooks,
      after whom Brooks' Alley was named. Church Street was
      not paved until 1760, and the parapet not flagged till 1816.
      Few houses had been erected in the street up to the close of
      the eighteenth century, but, after the dawn of the nineteenth
      shops and houses sprang into existence very quickly. One of the new buildings was opened about the 'twenties with
      the high-flown designation of ' The Dominion of Fancy.'
      Its walls were adorned with mirrors and ornate decorations,
      and it was used principally for balls, parties, and the
      exhibition of dioramas.” […]



      In response to a generally expressed desire on the part
      of the inhabitants for a second theatre in Liverpool, Mr. Scott decided to turn ' The Dominion of Fancy' into a theatre. Accordingly a small stage which was situated at the Church Street end of the building was erected, a useful company engaged, and new scenery and machinery provided. The name also underwent a change,'The Dominion of Fancy' being altered to the Pantheon Theatre. […]



      About the end of 1829, or the beginning of 1830, the
      Pantheon came under the direction of Richard Malone
      Raymond and W. J. Hammond. Prior to this both
      had been popular performers at the Theatre Royal, in
      Williamson Square. They re-christened Scott's theatre the Liver. For many years there was placed over the main entrance in Church Street a handsomely carved and gilded representation of the fabulous bird from which Liverpool is supposed to take its name. This emblem is still to be seen over the present shops.
      Under Messrs. Raymond and Hammond's spirited management
      the Liver gained great popularity. […]” (206-8)
    • Old Liverpool Theatres Website. 03/14/2008 (http://www.old-liverpool.co.uk/theatres.html)




      "The Liver Theatre In 1829 Messrs. Raymond and Hammond opened the Liver Theatre, in Church Street. In 1836 they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Hammond opened the Strand Theatre, London.
      From 'Picture of Liverpool: Stranger's Guide 1834'
      The Liver Theatre....This neat little theatre opened in Church street and dramatic pieces are exhibited here during the part of the year that the Theatre Royal is closed
      Paganini appeared at the Liver theatre in 1833 during his tour of British theatres. (see newspaper notices below)
      The theatre at 46 Church st later became a shop called 'The Liver Establishment' selling household goods and clothes owned by J Carmichael & Co .Today the premises is a Dorothy Perkins store."