Theatre Royal, Trotter Street and Jefferson Street, Blyth, Northumberland

Formerly The New Theatre

Above - The Theatre Royal, Blyth in 1980, just a few years before its demolition. - Photo Courtesy Trevor Harder.

 

A visitor to the site, Trevor Harder, has kindly sent in some information about the Theatre Royal, Blyth. Trevor says:' I am originally a native of Blyth in Northumberland, although I am now happily resident in sunny Spain. The Theatre Royal, Blyth was built by Arthur Jefferson, (father of Stan Laurel) and opened it’s doors as the New Theatre in 1900. The “Royal” style was granted a few years later.

Right - A Programme for Cody's Royal Empire Circus at the Theatre Royal, Blyth - Courtesy Trevor Harder. - On the Bill were AGA, the film star elephant, a Troup of performing geese, Doris Sloan's 12 Wonder Dogs, Clever Ponies and Lovely Girls, the Masked Texas Ranger, and Jackie, the unridable Mule, amongst others.

The theatre was designed by Hope and Maxwell and had a beautiful auditorium, with 1,200 seats, a large stage and electric lighting. The latter innovation was regarded as new fangled, and gas was available from the adjacent gas works.

Stan Laurel worked there as call-boy, then bit player in his early days. He used his mother’s maiden name Laurel, as Jefferson was considered too long for the playbills.

From its early days, the Royal was a touring house, supplemented by repertory seasons and later as a cinema. Many great stars played there, apart from young Laurel, including Gracie Fields, Charley Chaplin, (with Fred Karno’s company), in the days before they gained their stardom.

Left - A Programme for 'While Parents Sleep' at the Theatre Royal, Blyth in 1958 - Courtesy Trevor Harder.

The theatre was bought by Sol. Sheckman, one of his first Essoldo houses, and he always had a soft spot for the Royal. Like most provincial theatres, it staggered from one crisis to another in the 1950’s; finally closing its doors in 1964. It was later purchased by the uninspired local council, who allowed it to decay for a further two decades, before final demolition in 1984.

The site is now a town centre car park, with a public toilet. I said they were uninspiring!

Right - A Programme for the pantomime 'Jack and the Beanstalk' at the Theatre Royal, Blyth - Courtesy Trevor Harder.

I managed to salvage a few pieces of the beautiful plasterwork from the auditorium. I mounted these and they are now on permanent display in the Phoenix Theatre, Blyth, along with some of my framed pre WW1 posters.'

Above text and programmes kindly sent in by Trevor Harder.

 

Gaiety Theatre of Varieties, Blyth, Northumberland

The Gaiety Theatre of Varieties, Blyth was built in 1906 and is now long demolished.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share Please Contact me.