The Theatres Trust

Royal Opera House (Coventry)

  • Theatre ID
    111
  • Built / Converted
    1889
  • Dates of use
    • 1889 - 1940
  • Current state
    Demolished
  • Current use
    demolished
  • Address
    Hales Street, Coventry, West Midlands, England

Details

A significant three tier theatre by Essex & Nicol with C J Phipps as consultant, altered and improved by Sprague in 1898. Bomb damaged in 1940 but reopened as a cinema in 1941. Plans were to revert to theatre use after the war. There was a perceived need at that time for a civic theatre but the Royal Opera House was not entertained for that role. It closed in 1961 and was demolished that year.


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  • Other names
    Opera House, Grand
  • Events
    • Owner/Management: H C Orr, proprietor
    • 1889 - 1940 Use:
    • 1889 Design/Construction:
      • Essex & Nicol - Architect
    • 1889 Design/Construction:
      • C J Phipps - Consultant: Consulting Architect
      • William Goodall & Co (Liverpool) - Consultant: Structural Decorators
    • 1889 Owner/Management: W Bennett, proprietor
    • 1898 Alteration: alterations to front of dress circle, gallery and proscenium
      • W G R Sprague - Architect
    • 1898 Design/Construction:
      • De Jong & Co (London) - Consultant: Interior Decoration
    • 1912 Owner/Management: H G Dudley Bennett
    • 1961 Owner/Management: Sketchleys, proprietor
  • Capacities
    • Original: 2000
  • Listings
    • Grade Not listed
  • Stage type
    • Rake
  • Dimensions
    • Building dimensions: 1889 auditorium: 16.45m x 15.23m (54ft x 50ft wide)
    • Stage dimensions: 1889 d: 9.14m (30ft) w: 21.33m (70ft)
    • Proscenium width: 1889: 7.31m (24ft)

Of the period

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