The Theatres Trust

Opera House (St Helier)

  • Theatre ID
    614
  • Built / Converted
    1900
  • Dates of use
    • 1865: continuing
  • Current state
    Extant
  • Current use
    Theatre
  • Address
    Gloucester Road/ Newgate Street, St Helier, Jersey

Details

The first entertainment building on the site was the Royal Amphitheatre, a circus theatre adaptable for arena or stage performances. This building was destroyed by fire in 1899 and replaced by a new ‘Opera House’ designed by Adolf Curry, which opened with Lillie Langtry in ‘The Degenerates’. Only the impressive stucco façe (a charming provincial interpretation of a Parisian commercial theatre of the 1880s) survives from 1900. The interior was almost completely rebuilt in 1921 after a fire, and was in the cinéariety manner of the day: two simple balconies, surmounted by a fine panelled ceiling radiating out from a semi-circular dome. The slips of the dress circle dipped down towards the proscenium, while the gallery was nearly straight-fronted. Both had somewhat sparse gilded plaster festoons. In c.1960, when the building returned to theatrical use after post-war years as a cinema, six badly designed boxes were added to the side walls. Where they could have been a definite gain to the bleakness prevailing earlier. The simple proscenium frame, topped by a curious stepping-up to the ceiling, had a thirties flavour, but was in fact built when the opening was widened to 27ft in 1976. For a building of the period there are quite spacious foyers and bars at various levels, and these were improved in 1993 when the façe was also restored. Works undertaken in 1999/2000 refurbished the interior, providing a new upper circle and boxes and a completely new stage house, with new dressing rooms and offices. Other improvements included a new entrance canopy and restaurant. The lantern was restored.


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  • Other names
    Royal Amphitheatre, Theatre Royal
  • Events
    • 1865 Use: continuing
    • 1900 Design/Construction:
      • Adolf Curry - Architect
    • 1921 Alteration: reconstructed after fire
      • Jesty & Baker - Architect
    • 1943 Alteration: converted to cinema
      • Unknown - Architect
    • 1958 Alteration: reconverted for theatre use; 6 boxes added
      • Unknown - Architect
    • 1978 Alteration: proscenium enlarged; backstage improved
      • Unknown - Architect
    • 1993 Alteration: major improvements to bar and foyer areas; facade restored
      • Unknown - Architect
    • 1999 - 2000 Alteration: Array major improvements
      • MEBP - Architect
    • 1993 Design/Construction:
      • D J Hartigan - Consultant: Associates, Engineers
    • 1999 - 2000 Design/Construction: Array
      • Colin Toms & Partners - Consultant: Engineers
      • Theatre Futures - Consultant: Consultants
    • 1865 Owner/Management: Henry Cornwall
    • 1869 Owner/Management: Wybert Rousby
    • 1898 Owner/Management: Sidney Cooper
    • 1900 Owner/Management: Channel Island Entertainments Ltd
    • Owner/Management: Jersey International Leisure Activities, proprietor; Dick Ray, managing director
    • Owner/Management: Currently: Local Authority
  • Capacities
    • Later: 1994: 690
    • Current: 650
  • Listings
    • Grade Unknown
  • Stage type
    • Proscenium (will be flat)

Of the period

Auditorium of Claybury Hospital Recreation Hall
Claybury Hospital Recreation Hall
London

Have you seen?

Auditorium ceiling of Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's
London

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