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Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street, Glasgow
Also known as the Caledonian Theatre

Glasgow Index

Above - The Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street, from a photograph by Thomas Annan 1863 - Mitchell Library, Glasgow.

In 1781, Dunlop Street, which now runs from Argyle Street to the St Enoch's Centre, (Shown Left) was a quiet cul-de-sac.

When John Jackson began to build a theatre amongst the houses of some of Glasgow's most eminent citizens, he met with some opposition to his plans but in spite of this, Glasgow's first Theatre Royal opened in January 1782.

For the first fifteen years of its life, the Theatre was a second home for the Edinburgh Theatre Royal. Eventually, Glasgow was able to support its own company and the Theatre was visited by some of the great actors of the day such as Mrs Siddons in 1795 and Master Betty 'the infant prodigy' in 1804.

Right - Bill for a Benefit for T.C. King, at the Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street in 1857. T.C. King was the father of Arthur Lloyd's wife, Katty King, and a regular Drury Lane Tragedian - Click to enlarge.

Horatio Lloyd, Arthur Lloyd's father, is also known to have performed here for many years as principle Comedian. Read his personal reminiscence from the Dunlop Street Theatre here..

When Jackson and his partner Aitken took over the new Theatre Royal, Queen Street, in 1805, the Dunlop Street Theatre was renamed the Caledonian and became the City's 'minor' house, used for musical entertainments, circus shows and equestrian dramas.

In 1825 the lease of the Caledonian was snatched from under J.H. Alexander's nose by Frank Seymour. Alexander leased the cellar and a war of attrition between the two Theatres began. On nights when a quiet drama was planned for one Theatre the other would hire a brass band:

Right - Two posters for the Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street, Glasgow in 1843 - Click to Enlarge. Many of the posters on this page are from a large collection of original Lloyd / King Posters collected since the mid 1800s by members of the family and found recently after being lost for 50 years. To see all these posters click the Poster Index here...

Left - Poster for Horatio Lloyd at the Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street on January the 21st 1859 - Courtesy Stephen Wischhusen.

Eventually the magistrates insisted the Theatres played on different nights but the public came in their thousands to see the fun and the more illustrious Theatre Royal in Queen Street lost heavily.

Fire destroyed the Queen Street Theatre and the patent, bought by Alexander, transferred to the rebuilt Theatre Royal Dunlop Street, where it stayed 'till 1869.

In 1849 there was a false fire alarm in the theatre which led to 70 people being trampled to death in the ensuing panic. Alexander has a monument in the Necropolis.

The theatre was burnt down and rebuilt in 1863 and finally demolished in 1869 to make way for St Enoch's station. The title was transferred to The Theatre Royal in Hope Street where it still remains.

Text courtesy University of Glasgow Special Collections Department.

Horatio Lloyd, Arthur Lloyd's father, is known to have performed here for many years as principle Comedian. Read his personal reminiscence from the Dunlop Street Theatre here..

Right - Bill for Blue Beard at the Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street, Glasgow - Thursday Jan 22nd 1863 - With Horatio Lloyd on the Bill - Courtesy Adam McNaughtan. - Click for Horatio Lloyd's Biography.

Many of the posters right on this page are from a large collection of original Lloyd / King Posters collected since the mid 1800s by members of the family and found recently after being lost for 50 years. To see all these posters click the Poster Index here...