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Theatres and Halls in Halifax, Yorkshire

See also York Theatres

Theatre Royal and Opera House,
Ward’s End, Southgate, Halifax, West Yorkshire

The following text and images are from the Souvenir Programme, 12th September 1927, displayed below, on the reopening of the Theatre Royal, Halifax, after a fire destroyed the stage on February 5th 1927. The Theatre was converted to a Cinema in 1933, destroying much of the interior and stage. The Cinema became a Bingo Hall in 1966, closing in 1992. In 1999 the Theatre was converted to a themed entertainment café called La Manía, and is now, in 2004, a nightclucb called Club Platinum, a very sad demise for a once beautiful Theatre.

Right - Theatre Royal Halifax from a postcard - 1905

Time is the Judge: time has nor friend, nor foe:
False fame will wither, and the true will grow.

NOTES RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF THE THEATRE ROYAL,, HALIFAX.

DURING the reign of King George the Third the foundation stone of the Old Theatre Royal at Wards End was laid, September 12th 1789. There is obscurity with regard to the years preceding this date, but it is known that rooms over the stables of the White Lion Inn were occupied previously and that many national dramatic stars, including the Kembles visited the town.

It is interesting to recall that " when the project was formed of building a new stately theatre in the Haymarket, London, in the year 1706, Sir John Vanbrugh raised a subscription Of 30 persons of quality, at one hundred pounds each in consideration whereof every subscriber, for his own life, was to be admitted to whatever entertainments should be publicly performed there, without further payment for his entrance." Similarly in Halifax the promoters of the 1789 Theatre Royal had a like facility the pass being a silver ticket in the shape of a half-crown and bearing the words " Halifax Theatre." The promoters were Messrs. Thomas Stopford, George Woodhead, William Walker, John Walker, William Newby, Robert Alexander, Joshua Hamer, Robert Swaine, Richard Royds, Joseph Edwards, Charles Hudson, and John Mitchell.

The repertory movement of recent years has its counterpart in the method Of 140 years ago-stock companies were the order of the day. Actors and actresses lived in a town and played week after week, varying the fare as occasion demanded. The circuit system was also in operation. The theatrical season was short, lasting about twelve weeks during the winter months-the days of performances being three per week. In these early days Shakespeare's plays were frequently in the bill-" Hamlet," " Othello." " Cymbeline," etc., were strong favourites. It should be mentioned that " a murderer's skull who was hanged in chains on Beacon Hill was part of the theatre property, and was used in the gravediggers scene in Hamlet." Plays of the melodramatic type-" The Gamester," " The Road to Ruin," etc., were very popular.

There is a small quarto bill of the year 1800 or thereabouts, containing an interesting announcement :

"NEW THEATRE, HALIFAX.

Messrs. Taylor and Robertson present their respectful duty to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Halifax, its environs, and the public in general, they beg leave to inform them that they have, at a very considerable expense, purchased the Theatrical Property of Mr. Pero ; and hope they shall not be thought too presumptuous, if they flatter themselves that they have selected a company that will be approved of."

Amongst the performers engaged are, Mr. Hamerton, from the Theatre Royal, Dublin and York; Mr. Manley, from the Theatre Royal, Windsor; Miss Robinson, from the Theatre Royal, Liverpool; Mr. and Mrs. Thorne, Mr. Darley, Mr. Helme, and Mr. Taylor, from the Theatres Royal, Drury Lane and Covent Garden. It will be noted the players all come from important centres and that five of the members were from Drury Lane. The repertoire of plays to be given is interesting : " The Mountaineers," " The Jew," " Fontainville Forest," " Heigho for a Husband," " The World in a Village," " Auld Robin Grey ... . Sprigs of Lousel," " The Prize," " The Purse," " My Grandmother," " Hartford Bridge," and an entire New Pantomime. The bill further states that " No trouble or expense will be spared in rendering the entertainments of the Theatre agreeable to a liberal and candid audience : and they humbly hope their wishes to please will be accepted, and their endeavours crowned with success." This statement also has a special application now in the year 1927.

In the early days, plays with a local atmosphere appear to have been popular. In the year 1795 a play entitled " Effusions of Loyalty: or Halifax on a Field Day " was produced. One of the scenes depicted the old Halifax Cloth Hall with a display of the Volunteer Corps as accessories. In the same year a comic song : " Halifax is the very devil " was sung by a man named Yarnold. Two years later, in 1797, " The Pretty Girl of Halifax " was staged. A play bill of 1802 states that " Mr. Holmes will take his benefit on Friday evening, December 17th, and there will be presented (not acted here these 6 years) the favourite Comedy of 'The Deserted Daughter'; in the cast Mr. and Mrs. Manly and Mr. and Mrs. Robertson appear ; after the play a Dance called the Wapping landlady will be given " ; there were also various comic songs, a Hornpipe, and the addition of the favourite entertainment "Of Age Tomorrow." "Tickets may be had of Mr. Holmes, at T. Kershaw's, Hairdresser, Petticoat Lane, and at Jacobs' Printing Office-where places for the Boxes may be taken." It is to be noted that Doors opened at halfpast Five and the performances began at Six-thirty. Mr. Robertson must have been a versatile personality for we find that in 1814 he painted a scene representing rejoicings in Halifax. There was a view of Mr. Rawson's house and gardens, a fire and an ox-roasting and in the background, the old dispensary, Mr. Sharpe's buildings, the old Church, and the then verdant hills. Many theatrical stars of the period came to Halifax; amongst these were, in 1826, - Miss Foote, afterwards Countess of Harrington, in 1836 Mrs. Nisbett "the finest comedienne of the present century"-this lady later became Lady Boothby. Mr. Kcan junior in 1830, whilst in March, 1832, the celebrated Edmund Kean made his final appearance. The Mr. Manly previously mentioned was an eccentric personality-he was a proficient swearer, and a little lame. It is recorded that every night Mr. Manly used to send to Mrs. Murfitts, near the Piece Hall, for two veal pies-one for himself and one for his dog. His favourite character was Shylock, and it is worthy of record that a young member of his company, Charles Macready, who afterwards rose to national fame, modelled his rendering of the character upon that of Manly.

In February, 1833, a play " Dennis, or the Gibbet Law of Halifax," was acted. It was written by Mr. Nantz who then had control of the theatre and was played during the visit of Mrs. Manly. The advertisement contained the usual felicitations to the Nobility, Gentry, and Public of Halifax and continued with a description of this local Tragic Drama-based upon historical data. In Act 2, Scene 5, " There will be exhibited a Facsimile of the Real Gibbet and Axe." In Scene 6 the "Well i' th' Wall Street," and in the last scene " Sanctuary Bridge, crossing the Salterhebble Brook, and with a view of the Beacon Hill and the Forest of Hardwic "-the piece terminating with the death of the real criminal. The prices of admission were Boxes 3s.; Upper Boxes 2s. 6d. ; Pit 2S.; Gallery is. Doors open at 6 and the Curtain rises at 7 o'clock."

Up to the year 1824, candles were the sole source of illumination and on January 26th of that year considerable improvement was made by the installation of gas. The theatre was the centre of much local activity-it was a spot for outbursts of loyalty. In 1793, when George III was at war with France, a Mrs. Mason dressed as Britannia recited an " Ode to His Majesty " amidst scenes of intense enthusiasm. Similarly in 1840 there were great doings when fireworks were let off on the stage to celebrate the marriage of Queen Victoria. In 1841 considerable internal alterations were made to the theatre and the management of the period had no hesitation in asserting that " This theatre will be found to be one of the neatest and most comfortable in the kingdom."

The last performance to take place in that structure was in Old Kentucky," on March 5th, 1904. The new theatre which took its place was opened by Ald. Enoch Robinson, Mayor of Halifax, on the afternoon of Friday, August 4th, 1905 -a company Of 1,500 people being present, the first public performance being given by the Halifax Amateur Operatic Society, who staged the ever popular " Mikado." August 14th marked the first professional performance, Mr. Charles Stewatt's company appearing in the comedy " Our Flat." The history of the theatre from 1905 is well enough known to most people and does not need recounting.

The present important structural alterations and improvements have been carried out, in the necessary reconstruction after the fire which destroyed the stage, etc., on February 5th of this year, when Mr. Frank Curzon's Company were producing Edgar Wallace's sensational play " The Ringer."

The present development of the theatre enables the management still to say that the Theatre Royal, Halifax is one of the " neatest, most comfortable, and modern in the kingdom."

Acknowledgment is made Mr. Clifford Ramsden, of "Halifax Courier and Gaurdian", for the kindly loan of reference matter, which has been freely drawn upon, for the foregoing notes.