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The Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool

Formerly the Star Music Hall / Star Theatre of Varieties / Liverpool Repertory Theatre

Liverpool Index

The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool from 'The Liverpool Repertory Theatre' by Grace Wyndham Goldie 1935.

Above - The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool from 'The Liverpool Repertory Theatre'
by Grace Wyndham Goldie 1935.

 

The auditorium of the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool from 'The Liverpool Repertory Theatre' by Grace Wyndham Goldie 1935.The Playhouse Theatre in Liverpool's Williamson Square was built by the architect Edward Davies and originally opened as the Star Music Hall in 1866 on the site of the former Star Concert Hall.

The Theatre was renamed the Star Theatre of Varieties in 1895 and in 1898 was considerably improved by Harry Percival when he reconstructed the auditorium and Foyers and electricity was installed into the building.

Right - The auditorium of the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool from 'The Liverpool Repertory Theatre' by Grace Wyndham Goldie 1935.

In 1911 the Theatre was renamed again, this time to the Liverpool Repertory Theatre, when the auditorium was again altered and a new bar was created out of a former beer cellar. Subsequent alterations have included an extension to the building to house a paintframe and workshop from a former cafe next door in 1961, the stage and dressing rooms enlarged in 1966, and in 1968 a glass tower was built to accommodate a new entrance and booking office for the Theatre and a restaurant.

 

Sketch of the Star Theatre, Liverpool - From 'The Playgoer' of 1901 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon.

Above - Sketch of the Star Theatre, Liverpool - From 'The Playgoer' of 1901 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon.

Sketch of the Stage, Procenium, and Boxes of the Star Theatre, Liverpool - From 'The Playgoer' of 1901 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon.

Above - Sketch of the Stage, Procenium, and Boxes of the Star Theatre, Liverpool - From 'The Playgoer' of 1901 - Courtesy Iain Wotherspoon.

A plethora of Advertisements posted on a Liverpool building shows one for 'The Love of the Princess' at the Star Theatre, Liverpool - Courtesy Roy Cross.

Above - A plethora of Advertisements posted on a Liverpool building shows one for 'The Love of the Princess' at the Star Theatre, Liverpool - Courtesy Roy Cross.

 

Liverpool's Daily Post pullout souvenir for the Jubilee of the Playhouse Theatre on Saturday November the 4th 1961, 50 years after the founding of the Liverpool Repertory Company at the Theatre. - Click to see the entire souvenir.The Playhouse, as the Theatre has been known since 1917, is the only surviving Victorian Theatre still in active Theatrical use in Merseyside and is Grade II listed. The Auditorium, built on three levels, still retains much of its 1911 structure and plasterwork.

Programme for 'Alice in Wonderland' at the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool in December 1946.Left - Liverpool's Daily Post pullout souvenir for the Jubilee of the Playhouse Theatre on Saturday November the 4th 1961, 50 years after the founding of the Liverpool Repertory Company at the Theatre. - Click to see the entire souvenir.

Right - Programme for 'Alice in Wonderland' at the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool in December 1946.

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed here in 1871 and his Grandson Robert George Lloyd, my father, was born in Liverpool in 1911, the year the Liverpool Repertory Company was formed.

The Theatre is now run in conjunction with the Everyman Theatre in Hope Street.

You may like to visit the Playhouse and Everyman Theatres' website here...