Theatre Royal (South Shields)

• Theatre ID
  1643
• Built / Converted
  1866
• Dates of use
  • 1866 - 1933
• Current state
  Façade only
• Current use
  converted to other use (retail - M&S in 2004)
• Address
  14 King Street, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England

Details

The Phipps/Clemence partnership was the result of the promoters establishing a competition to build the new theatre. Only the 1866 façe by Clemence remains, less columns and pedimented portico. The original ground floor of two shops either side of a central entrance is now replaced by a modern shop front. Above, three bays divided by giant Corinthian pilasters which support a full entablature. At second floor the central bay has a framed, recessed panel, the outer bays with oval windows decorated with swags descending from masks of comedy and tragedy. It is not known if any internal features still exist at upper level. The shell remains with a short fly tower to the rear. Situated immediately alongside the Empire.

---

Hide further details

• Events
  • 1866 - 1933 Use:
  • 1866 Design/Construction:
    • C J Phipps (Bath) & T M Clemence (South Shields) - Architect
  • 1866 Design/Construction:
    • Green & King (London) - Consultant: Decorations
    • Mr Tasker (Bristol) - Consultant: Stage Carpenter
    • G G Laidler (Newcastle) - Consultant: Painting And Decorations
  • 1866 - 1911 Owner/Management: South Shields Theatre Co, owners
  • 1866 Owner/Management: Whybert Reeve, lessee
  • 1868 Owner/Management: G W Harris & Mark Moss Mellor, lessees
  • 1871 Owner/Management: G Goddard Whyatt, lessee
  • 1874 Owner/Management: J W Kimber, lessee
  • 1877 Owner/Management: S B Siddall, lessee
  • 1878 Owner/Management: Fred Cooke, lessee
  • 1887 Owner/Management: Thomas B Appleby, lessee
  • 1891 Alteration: dress circle bar converted to ladies cloakroom, circle and gallery fronts altered
    • J H Morton (South Shields) - Architect
  • 1892 Owner/Management: Mrs T B Appleby, lessee
  • 1893 Owner/Management: Mrs L M Snowdon, lessee
  • 1893 Alteration: pit entrance altered
    • J H Morton - Architect
  • 1899 Alteration: cast iron canopy over main entrance
    • J H Morton - Architect
  • 1899 Owner/Management: Launcelot Marshall Snowdon, lessee
  • 1902 Owner/Management: Messrs J & F Coulson, lessee
  • 1908 Owner/Management: John W Coulson, lessee
  • 1919 Owner/Management: R Thornton, lessee
  • 1922 Owner/Management: J J Gillespie, lessee
  • 1930 Owner/Management: P A Taylor, lessee
  • 1931 - 1932 Owner/Management: J Bocca, lessee
  • 1934 Alteration: converted to shop
    • Jones & Rigby - Architect
• Capacities
  • Original: 1560
  • Later: 1912: 1660
• Listings
  • Grade II - 1.2.1983
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: 52ft (front elevation); 120ft deep; 45ft wide at f
  • Stage dimensions: 1866 d: 31ft w: 54ft 1891 d: 30ft w: 54ft 1912 d: 35ft w: 58ft 1920 d: 24ft w: 53ft
  • Proscenium width: 25ft
  • Height to grid: 1912: 38ft 6in
  • Inside proscenium: 1920: 32ft