Theatre Royal (Manchester)

• Theatre ID
  604
• Built / Converted
  1845
• Dates of use
  • 1845 - 1921
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Licensed premises (Nightclub)
• Address
  Peter Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England

Details

The Theatre Royal is Manchester’s oldest surviving theatre, though now in use as a night club. Built in 1845 on an island site, it is an impressive building in Classical style; the giant recessed portico with fluted Corinthian columns in antis seems to dominate Peter Street even today. The monumental façe is one of the finest examples of theatre architecture to have survived in Britain from the first half of the nineteenth century. It is symmetrical, stuccoed, in three unequal bays with three storeys and an attic. The modillioned cornice is treated as a parapet, and gabled in the centre. The portico contains three steps to three altered doorways, with a pedimented aedicule in the centre with a Carrara marble statue of Shakespeare leaning on a pedestal. The entablature bears a frieze inscribed ‘Theatre Royal Erected 1845’. The façe of the Theatre Royal, as well as Cockerell’s banks were clearly a source of inspiration for Richardson and his partners when designing the front of the Royal Opera House. A massive water tank was incorporated into the roof, in case of fire. Originally with three balconies and designed for drama and opera, in 1921 the auditorium was remodelled as a cinema, removing the stage. From this time it had two balconies, connected to an elaborate proscenium arch by balcony slips. The ornate ceiling, now not easily visible, has deeply coved sides and basketwork enrichment reminiscent of Covent Garden. In 1972, the building took on a new lease of life as a bingo hall and, following conversion to a discotheque, various lighting bridges and gantries etc have been added. The 1845 façe is virtually intact, and the building retains the balcony from 1875. The internal conversion for its present use seems to have obscured rather than destroyed the theatre interior, which appears to be restorable.

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• Other names
  Royal Cinema, Royal Bingo, Royale
• Events
  • 1845 - 1921 Use:
  • 1845 Design/Construction:
    • John Gould Irwin & Francis Chester - Architect
  • 1875 Alteration: interior reconstructed
    • Edward Salomons - Architect
  • 1921 Alteration: interior reconstructed as cinema
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1963 Alteration: converted for Cinerama
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1972 Alteration: converted to bingo
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1990 - 1999 Alteration: converted to nightclub
    • G N Design - Architect
  • 1845 Owner/Management: John Knowles, owner
  • 1921 Owner/Management: John Pollock, owner
  • 1926 Owner/Management: Paramount, lessee
  • 1935 Owner/Management: Independent, owner
  • 1990 - 1999 Owner/Management: First Leisure
• Capacities
  • Later: 1935: 1943 1963: 1073
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth 1875: 50ft
  • Orchestra pit: None now