Theatre Royal (Birmingham)

• Theatre ID
  946
• Built / Converted
  1774
• Dates of use
  • 1774 - 1956
• Current state
  Demolished
• Current use
  demolished
• Address
  New Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, England

Details

The first New Street theatre was built in 1774 for Richard Yates by a group of manufacturers and traders. In 1780 a new façe was added by Samuel Wyatt. This was a fine neo-classical design of two storeys in five bays, the two outer bays being higher by a low attic with a pitched roof. The three centre bays had entrances set behind a recessed arcade, above which was a first floor loggia with coupled doric columns and a crowning balustrade. This façe survived a fire in 1792 and the theatre was rebuilt to George Saunders’ designs, opening in 1794. It finally received a Royal patent in 1807. Another destructive fire occurred in 1820, following which the theatre was rebuilt, again behind Wyatt’s frontage, by Samuel Beazley. At the behest of the building committee (whose number included the engineer Matthew Boulton) more cast iron was incorporated into the structure than Beazley considered wise and a collapse occurred during the building of the stage, but the theatre opened on time in August 1828. Major alterations were made, notably in 1885 when the fly tower was raised. Beazley’s theatre and Wyatt’s façe were finally demolished in 1902. A new theatre by Runtz opened in 1904 with a front elevation described as being ’in Adam style’. This had a capacity of 2200 and was a late example of a three-balcony (i.e. four tier) house. The theatre closed in 1956 and the site was redeveloped with shops and offices.

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• Other names
  Theatre
• Events
  • 1774 - 1956 Use:
  • 1774 Design/Construction:
    • Saul - Architect
  • 1777 Alteration: coffee room added
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1780 - 1782 Alteration: Array street front and portico added, other alterations
    • Samuel Wyatt - Architect
  • 1792 Alteration: received first premium for redesign of theatre following fire but designs never used
    • Cornelius Dixon - Architect
  • 1794 Alteration: new theatre behind Wyatt’s façade after a fire
    • George Saunders (with Charles Norton) - Architect
  • 1814 Alteration: alterations (? to stage machinery)
    • Rudolphe Cabanel - Architect
  • 1820 Alteration: rebuilt after another fire
    • Samuel Beazley - Architect
  • 1868 Alteration: alterations to stage, etc
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1875 Alteration: alterations to stage and auditorium
    • Naden - Architect
  • 1885 Alteration: extensive alterations, including new fly tower
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1904 Alteration: rebuilt
    • Ernest Runtz - Architect
  • 1795 Design/Construction:
    • Dixon - Consultant: Interior Decoration
    • Greenwood & Dixon - Consultant: Scenery
  • 1802 Design/Construction:
    • Dixon - Consultant: Redecorations & Regilding (For £330)
  • 1820 Design/Construction:
    • Dixon & Co - Consultant: General Decorations Prepared In London
    • Hawkes of Dudley - Consultant: Chandeliers
    • William Dixon - Consultant: Act Drop
  • 1868 Design/Construction:
    • Roberts - Consultant: Decorations
  • 1875 Design/Construction:
    • John Gault - Consultant: Act Drop
  • 1893 Design/Construction:
    • W R Young - Consultant: Act Drop
  • 1904 Design/Construction:
    • Sinee & Cobay - Consultant: Decorations
    • W J Neatby - Consultant: Allegorical Figures
  • 1807 Owner/Management: ?M’Cready (father of W C Macready)
  • 1813 Owner/Management: Robert William Elliston, lessee & manager
  • 1820 Owner/Management: Alfred Bunn, lessee
  • 1837 Owner/Management: H Mercer Simpson, lessee & manager
  • 1864 Owner/Management: H Mercer Simpson junior, lessee & manager
  • 1891 Owner/Management: Charles Dornton, lessee
  • 1900 - 1902 Owner/Management: Mrs Charles Dornton, lessee
  • 1904 Owner/Management: Theatre Royal Birmingham Ltd, owners
  • 1929 Owner/Management: Moss Empires
  • 1956 Owner/Management: Valentine Parnell & Emile Littler, lessees
  • 1957 - 0 Demolition:
• Capacities
  • Later: 1908: 3500 1912: 1842
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: 1904 d: 46ft w: 72ft
  • Proscenium width: 1904 34ft
  • Height to grid: 59ft
  • Orchestra pit: Original 17
• Unreliable anecdotes
  Cunningham gives the date of 1792 fire as 18 January instead of 17 August. Also reopening of new theatre as May 1794 instead of 22 June 1795.