Theatre Royal (Bournemouth)

• Theatre ID
  559
• Built / Converted
  1882
• Dates of use
  • 1882 - 1962
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (Casino/part nightclub)
• Address
  Albert Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, England

Details

Described as ‘a handsome and well-appointed Theatre’ the Theatre Royal Bournemouth opened in 1882, in the heart of the town in Albert Road. It cost £10,000 and seated 800, between stalls, dress circle, upper circle, pit, gallery, and private boxes. In 1887 it was converted to a Town Hall but re-opened as a theatre in 1892 after refurbishment. During the Second World War years the theatre became a services club. It suffered fire damage in 1943 and was reconstructed. In 1949, it reopened as the New Theatre Royal. In 1962 July, the theatre was converted to the Curzon cinema and bingo club, and in 1971 ‘twinned’ as the Tatler cinema club. The theatre has a good stuccoed façe of four bays and four storeys with giant Corinthian pilasters embracing the upper three storeys. A casino now operates in the lower part of the theatre, whilst the (balcony) cinema closed in 1982 and became a nightclub in 2005. The grid area and flying system remain intact.

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• Other names
  New Theatre Royal
• Events
  • 1882 - 1962 Use:
  • 1882 Design/Construction: Welsh & Pindar
    • Kemp - Architect
  • 1887 Alteration: converted to Town Hall
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1909 Alteration: large foyer added
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1949 Alteration: plasterwork removed from circle and box fronts
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1962 Alteration: converted to cinema
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1971 Alteration: twinned
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1985 Alteration: converted to casino (downstairs)
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1882 - 1894 Owner/Management: William Stevenson, licensee; Harry Nash (his partner), manager
  • 1894 - 1886 Owner/Management: Mrs Nash (widow of Harry Nash), licensee; Charles Offer, acting manager
  • 1886 Owner/Management: June Messrs Morell & Mouillot, owners
  • 1910 Owner/Management: David Allen & Sons
  • 1996 Owner/Management: Stanley Casinos, owners
• Capacities
  • Later: 1910: 1500
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: 1910 Depth: 34ft Width: 44ft 6in
  • Proscenium width: 1910: 24ft
  • Height to grid: 1910: 46ft