King's Theatre (Stoke-on-Trent)

• Theatre ID
  1207
• Built / Converted
  1892
• Dates of use
  • 1892 - 1925
• Current state
  Demolished
• Current use
  demolished
• Address
  New Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1, England

Details

The Empire opened on 14 March 1892 on the site of the Gaiety, adjoining the New Inn where additional property had been acquired. It was designed by Frank Matcham, and built at a cost of £6,000. It was lit with electricity. The frontage to New Street was built in the Italian style. A porte-cochere was erected adjoining the principal entrance, and an iron and glass verandah over the entrance. The vestibule was laid with encaustic tiles and had an ornamental ceiling. A stairway led to the crush hall on circle level. There were three levels of seating: ground floor - fauteuils and pit; first floor - balcony stalls (three rows) and six private boxes; and second floor - amphitheatre (three rows) and gallery. Each level had two exits. There was a large dome in the ceiling, and the balcony fronts and boxes were covered with fibrous plaster. The proscenium arch was framed with ornamental mouldings, on the inside of which was a border of dark red marble. The stage was built on piers over a pond of hot water used by the Potteries at the rear - this was not an integral part of the theatre. There were seven dressing rooms at the side of the stage divided by brick walls and approached from New Street.

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• Other names
  Empire
• Events
  • 1892 - 1925 Use:
  • 1892 Owner/Management: The Provincial Music Hall Co Ltd, proprietors; John Atkinson, managing director
  • 1892 Design/Construction:
    • Ryan - Consultant: Act Drop
    • Binns (Halifax) - Consultant: Decorations
    • Carton-Pierre Fibrous Plaster Company - Consultant: Fibrous Plaster
    • Frank Matcham - Architect
  • 1895 Alteration: reopened after auction.
  • 1895 Owner/Management: E Carpenter, proprietor
  • 1899 Owner/Management: C & G Elphinstone, proprietors
  • 1901 Alteration: extensions incorporating site of former Woodman Inn, additional land also acquired at rear; redecorated and enlarged, becoming King’s Theatre, and a drama house after closure for two years.
    • T Brearly - Architect
    • Alfred Whyatt - Consultant: New Scenery
  • 1905 Owner/Management: Alfred Edwards, proprietor
  • 1907 Alteration: reopened for ciné-variety after redecoration and unspecified alterations (architect unknown).
  • 1907 Owner/Management: Ediscope & Barnum’s Electric Picture Company
  • 1907 Owner/Management: J P Moore & Ben Kennedy, proprietors
  • 1925 Alteration: (builder & owner), reopened as Capitol Cinema; interior reconstructed, and entrance moved to Old Hall Street
    • James Grant - Architect
  • 1925 Owner/Management: James Grant, owner
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Rake