Theatre Royal Hyde

• Theatre ID
  1813
• Built / Converted
  1902
• Dates of use
  • 1902 - 1972
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused (used as a cinema to 1992)
• Address
  Corporation Street/Henry Street, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 1AB, England
• Website
  • Theatre Royal Onward website

Details

The Theatre Royal was opened in 1902 as a replacement for the first Theatre Royal, which stood in Frank Street. Its owners, the Hyde Theatre Company Limited, had secured the land for a newer and better theatre in 1901, and it opened as the New Theatre Royal in 1902 seating 1,000. The façe to Corporation Street is simply ornamented in red brick and terracotta: three storeys high in three major bays, and in the centre an arched, shallow recess with a semi-circular arched head and pilasters rising from corbels to support a triangular pediment, richly decorated with moulded brickwork. Inside the auditorium feels intimate, with two balconies curving round to meet the proscenium. Dressing rooms are set at the side of the auditorium. In 1914, the theatre was leased for cinema use and called the New Royal Cinema, but the name of Theatre Royal was soon in use again for the regular pantomimes, variety and local shows. In 1950 it became a repertory theatre for two years, and thereafter reverted to cinema with only Christmas pantomime and occasional shows until the 1960s, when it was used largely as a cinema. The last live show was staged in October 1972, after which the stage area was converted to a second cinema. The building finally closed as a cinema in 1992. Despite prolonged disuse, the auditorium remains undivided, retaining much of its theatrical atmosphere. The flies, grid and 13.4m (44ft) deep raked stage also remain and conversion back to live use would probably be feasible. The theatre is well situated in the town centre, and sits adjacent to the much smaller Festival Theatre, which is currently used by the amateur companies who transferred their productions when the Royal lost the stage area. Demolition consent was given in 1999 and plans for a redevelopment scheme approved. However the building was spot-listed in April 2000, and the plans put to one side. A Building Preservation Trust (Theatre Royal Onward) was set up in 2001, with a view to acquiring the building, but it was offered for auction in 2005 and acquired by a private investment company. Its future is still unclear, but since July 2011 the owners have commenced agreed works to the building, removing asbestos and dry rot, and dismantling the second cinema on the stage. The Theatre Royal Onward Trust continue to campaign for the building's restoration and re-opening, including work with the Council to look at future options for the building.

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• Other names
  Theatre Royal (ii), New Theatre Royal, New Royal Cinema
• Events
  • 1902 - 1972 Use:
  • 1902 Design/Construction:
    • Campbell & Horsley (Manchester) - Architect
  • 1902 Owner/Management: Hyde Theatre Company, owners
  • 1914 Owner/Management: Moore & Beaudyn (Salford), lessees
  • 1932 Alteration: alterations for cinema use
    • P Cummings - Architect
  • 1940 - 1949 Owner/Management: James Brennan, lessee
  • 1960 - 1970 Owner/Management: Stanneylands, lessees
  • 1972 Alteration: second cinema screen incorporated in stage area (architect unknown).
  • 1985 Owner/Management: Stephen Wischusen, lessee
  • 1991 - 1993 Owner/Management: Unknown, lessee
  • 2005 Owner/Management: private company.
• Capacities
  • Original: 1000
  • Current: c.1000
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: d: 44ft w: 63ft
  • Proscenium width: 29ft