Theatre Royal, Peter Street, Manchester, 1866 in it’s heyday.
the Theatre Royal 2018, still standing but what a sad site!!
The Theatre Royal which was on Peter Street, was very close to the Free Trade Hall. It opened in 1845 and at present I have catalogued its programmes up to 1899. The programmes are so beautiful and in the 1890’s some of them were transformed into a fan shape. Perhaps they were used by the ladies visiting the theatre as an actual fan. The programmes that are available are from 1865 up to 1922 which are currently archived at Central Library. .
Many famous artistes and company’s performed at The Theatre Royal during the late 1890’s. Sir Henry Irving, Ellen Terry , Wilson Barrett, Sarah Bernhardt, Henry Lytton, to name just a few.
Amongst the many opera companies that played there were The Carl Rosa Opera Company, the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and Sir Augustus Harris’s Italian Opera Company.
I found it strange that there was a famous actor called ‘Tyrone Power’ and thought it can’t possibly be ‘’Tyrone Power’, movie star in the ilk of Clark Gable and Errol Flynn; heartthrobs of my mother’s era in the 1930’s and 40’s. It turns out that Tyrone Power, the actor at the Theatre Royal was the father of Tyrone Power the movie star.
Another unusual listing is an opera called ‘Jane Annie’ written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and J M Barrie which was staged by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. It was a bit of a flop and only survived for 51 performances in London and a short touring version which came to the Theatre Royal.
Some of the most unusual adverts were for Bovril, Sunlight soap, Honeymoon Soap and a Mr Timpson who repaired shoes plus an ad for furniture that could be bought on weekly payments, just like today.
An advert that spoke out to me was for a wine company on Cross Street, Manchester called ‘The Bodega’, they sold wines and cigars etc. I remember as a teenager in the 1960’s going to the same ‘Bodega’ which was in the cellars on Cross St Manchester. It was a bar and club playing blues and jazz in which Georgie Fame, George Melly, Long John Baldry, Chris Barber, Humphry Littleton, Kenny Ball, Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll to name just a few of the famous people who performed there.I had to lie about my age and add two years onto my date of birth so that I could gain admission !!
I went there to see films in the 1950s
Hi Peter, my first date when I was about 14 was there to see ‘the Mummy’
I found your internet site from Google as well as I need to state it was
a fantastic find. Thanks!
HiMerissa
Many thanks for your lovely comments, I’m glad your enjoying it and I hope I will be able to keep writing interesting stuff for you.
My great great grandfather, William Asbury, was a permanent member of the Stock Company at the Theatre Royal, Manchester from 1852 until 1863 and acted on that stage with the likes of Henry Irving,(later Sir Henry), Helen Faucit, and the Keeley Family. He also formed part of a select group from the theatre to accompany the celebrated comedian, Charles Mathews, on a tour of several towns and cities through the summer of 1855.
William was a celebrated pantomime artist and towards the end of his career appeared in what was said to be the most watched panto in British Theatre history. This was ‘Blue Beard’ the 1859 Christmas panto that ran until Easter 1860 and was visited by more than 200,000 people.
His wife, Maria recieved a number of commendations for costumme design and production.
Hi Alan
Thanks for that information. I’ll look and see if I can find his name on any of the playbills or programes I have documented
Regards
Marilyn