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The Prince's Theatre, Victoria Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Bradford Index

Above - The Prince's Theatre, Bradford - From an early postcard of Victoria Square (shown below) - Courtesy Maurice Friedman British Music hall Society.

The Prince's Theatre, Bradford was built by Jackson and Langley in 1876 above their earlier Palace Theatre which had opened the year before. There was a pass door just inside the stage door of the Prince's, which was at street level, and this led into the back of the circle of the Palace. The Palace Theatre closed in 1938, many years before the Prince's Theatre but a lot of old equipment was still left inside including the dimmer mechanism. All the seats in the auditorium had gone however, and there was just the occasional safety light to see by.

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed at the Prince's Theatre, Bradford in: 1890 with his play Ballyvogan (See review below).

The Prince's Theatre was restructured in 1900, again by Jackson and Langley.

Right - Two 1940s Programmes for the Prince's Theatre, Bradford; 'The Guinea Pig' 1948 and 'A Cuckoo In The Nest' 1949 - Click for details.

The Prince's Theatre closed on Saturday the 27th of May 1961 and then remained empty, along with the Palace Theatre beneath it, until in 1964 when both Theatres were demolished and a garden was created on the site which is now in front of the National Media Museum.

Above - The Prince's Theatre and Victoria Square, Bradford - Courtesy Maurice Friedman British Music hall Society.

Above - Victoria Square, Bradford from a Postcard. To the right is the Prince's Theatre, below which was the Palace Theatre. And to the left is the Alhambra Theatre.

A Review in Bradford's Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 30 Sept 1890

"Mr Arthur Lloyd's Company are paying a return visit to the Prince's Theatre this week and are producing the piece "Ballyvogan" with which Mr Lloyd's name is so well identified. This drama has a genuine smack of Hibernian taste and humour, is well mounted and well presented and well portrayed by a capable company.

Miss Katty King sustains her original character of Norah O'Sullivan in the most charming fashion, and her rendering of the two songs was much appreciated by a very good house. Mr Arthur Lloyd was as versatile as ever in his impersonation
of the naughty and humorous Mr McCrindle, and the other characters were well filled."

Review and dates information above kindly sent in by Colin Sutton.

If you have any more information or images of this Theatre you are willing to share please Contact Me.