Theatre Royal (Winchester)

• Theatre ID
  796
• Built / Converted
  1913
• Dates of use
  • 1914: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  Jewry Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8SB, England

Details

An excellent example of a small cinéariety theatre which has survived in remarkably complete condition. The building has evolved in an interesting way. In 1850, the Market Hotel was built in Jewry Street, to serve the adjacent market and corn exchange. The hotel closed and was acquired in 1913 by John and James Simpkins (who ran the Palace Theatre). An auditorium and stage were constructed in the yard behind the hotel, retaining the two main wings of the hotel in Tower Street and Jewry Street, of which the main elevations survive today in altered condition. The Theatre opened as a cinéariety in 1914, and in 1916 had become a ‘Revue Theatre’. In 1922, live shows ended and life as a cinema began. Sound was installed in 1928. The auditorium was designed by F G M Chancellor with a typical segmental barrel-vault ceiling over the full width, and a slightly-curved balcony. In this case however, something rather more positive than usual was retained of the earlier theatre/music hall tradition, in that the balcony has side arms which become bow-fronted boxes at each end, flanking the proscenium. Florid Baroque plasterwork on balcony and box fronts. Typically shallow stage and fly tower. Pleasing stuccoed façe which incorporates much earlier work and ties in well with the adjoining terrace. The first floor has four wide bays defined by coupled Ionic pilasters. Each bay has a single rectangular window with an ornamented surround and three festoons above. Straight bracketed cornice and a low attic storey above the centre. The Rank Organisation bought the theatre in 1939. In 1974, it was closed, and planning permission sought to demolish the theatre and build a supermarket. This was rejected, and the Winchester Theatre Fund was formed to acquire the building, which they did in 1977. In 1985 extensive works were carried out, reducing capacity to 400 by the loss of slip seats and the formation of a new orchestra pit treated with the restoration or replication plaster ornament. A new safety curtain was installed. The most radical and far-reaching improvements to what is now a dedicated theatre were undertaken in 2003. Front of house spaces and bars have been greatly enlarged, colonising space in the former hotel and adjoining terraces. A spacious staircase leads to an attractive upper foyer, a hospitality room has been created and the record of change has been made readable by retaining in the interior some formerly external faces (e.g. rubble-faced walls) and traces of old decorations which might have been concealed. The improvements in theatre use terms have been considerable but cine-enthusiasts have regretted the loss of the original cinema foyer and box office and the projection facilities. Externally the pleasing stucco façes of the old frontage buildings, although altered, have been sensitively treated, retaining the bracketed cornice and the established rythem of pilasters and window openings.

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• Other names
  New Theatre Royal
• Events
  • 1850 Design/Construction: as a hotel
    • Owen Browne Carter - Architect
  • 1913 Alteration: theatre added
    • F G M Chancellor - Architect
  • 1913 Owner/Management: John & James Simpkins, owners
  • 1914 Use: continuing
  • 1914 Design/Construction:
    • Messrs Dick & Son - Consultant: Lighting
    • Messrs R & M Simpkins - Consultant: Decorators (Related To J & J Simpkins, Owners)
  • 1920 Alteration: redecorated with painted panels in auditorium
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1939 Owner/Management: Rank organisation, owners
  • 1953 Owner/Management: various lessees
  • 1973 Owner/Management: Star Group, owners
  • 1977 Owner/Management: Winchester Theatre Fund, owners; Winchester Theatre Royal Ltd, proprietors
  • 1981 Alteration: renovated; circle bar formed; theatre pub refurbished
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1985 Alteration: major restoration works; capacity reduced to 400 by loss of 9 seats in slips and 35 for new orchestra pit; replication of plasterwork included frieze around top of new panel on proscenium wall; new safety curtain
    • Ware MacGregor - Architect
  • 2003 Alteration: major works of restoration and improvement to theatre and frontage buildings.
    • Burrell Foley Fischer - Architect
• Capacities
  • Later: 1977: 419
  • Current: c.400
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 7.08m Width SL: 4.5m SR: 4.5m
  • Proscenium width: 7.39m
  • Height to grid: 13.5m
  • Orchestra pit: since 1985