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____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Morecambe Theatres and Halls Devonshire Hall - Morecambe Baths, Palace, and Aquarium - Alhambra Theatre - Winter Gardens and Victoria Pavilion Theatre - Royalty Theatre - Assembly Rooms Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed in Morecambe in 1886, 1879 |
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The Royalty Theatre, Morecambe Formerly - The Assembly Rooms / Royalty Theatre and Opera House / Morecambe Repertory Theatre The Royalty Theatre was constructed by J. Edmondson for its owner Mr. J. Jowett, and built on the site of the former Assembly Rooms in Morecambe, and originally opened as the Royalty Theatre and Opera House on the 4th of April 1898 with a production of 'The Sign of the Cross'. The Theatre was designed by the renowned Theatre Architect Frank Matcham, and was intended to be open all year round as it was thought that the town had a pressing need for theatrical entertainment in the winter months. The furnishings, decorations and fibrous plasterwork for the Theatre were carried out by A. and R. Dean of Birmingham, and the auditorium was designed in the Louis XV Style in cream and terra-cotta with blue and gold draperies etc. The stage of the Theatre was laid by John Dixon, formerly of the Batley Theatre, with all the usual fittings of the time, and was lit by electricity and gas. The Theatre could accommodate some 1,500 people with stalls seating for 160, pit 850, dress circle 55, upper circle 120, ampitheatre 110, gallery 250, boxes 10, and standing room for upwards of 450. On its opening the Theatre was managed by Kourad Leigh and the orchestral director was Louis Myers. Scenery for the opening production of 'The Sign of the Cross' was painted by T. J. Stephenson. This was preceded by a choral singing of the National Anthem from off stage and joined in by a packed audience. The cast for the opening production were Philip Cunningham, Sylvia Cavalho, A. M. Munro, W. H. Sams, Frank Vernon, Wm. Lockhart, Lilla Wilde, Maud Warrillow and a large ensemble. The ERA reported on the building itself a month before it opened, in their 5th of March 1898 edition saying: 'This new theatre, erected on the site of the old Assembly Rooms, is now nearing completion, and will be opened on April 4th next by Mr Wm. Greet's Sign of the Cross company. Morecambe is a flourishing watering-place, and up to now has not been provided with a properly equipped theatre. Mr J. Jowett has come to the rescue, and with the assistance of Mr Frank Matcham the well-known theatrical architect, has provided the town with a charming playhouse, a veritable triumph of architectural skill, showing what can be done on a small piece of ground by one who knows how to utilise every foot of available space. The theatre is well provided with entrances and staircases and saloons, and is daintily furnished and decorated. There are two exits from each part of the house. The stalls and dress-circle have comfortable tip-up chairs; there is also a large pit, and the tier over the dress-circle is divided into amphitheatre and gallery. Two private boxes are provided on each side of the stage opening with draperies of light blue plush. The auditorium is artistically decorated in cream and terra-cotta. The sight lines are excellent. and elegance - combined with the comfort and safety of the public - has evidently been the principal consideration. The stage, which is divided by a safety asbestos curtain, is large enough to accommodate any show on the road. The dressing. rooms are exceptionally well lighted and ventilated.' - The ERA, 5th of March 1898. The Theatre went on to entertain the Morecambe public for many years and a plethora of well known actors trod its boards, including Josephine Tewson who met Leonard Rossiter there in 1954, Robert Stephens who made his first appearance there, and the much loved British theatre, film, and television actress Thora Hird, who is well known for her association with the Royalty as she was born in the house next door in 1911. Thora also made her stage debut at the Royalty at the age of just two months, carried on stage by her father in a play directed by him, her father was resident Stage Manager of the Theatre at the time. He didn't really want his daughter to become an actress though so she began her working career at the local Co-op. Theatre was in Thora's blood however, as her mother was also an actress, and she later went on to make her London Theatre debut in 1940, and then returned to her roots and joined the Morecambe Repertory Theatre Company at the Royalty, which was formed in 1948. Mervyn Pinfield, who was a well known Television producer in the 50s and 60s, and went on to work on producing live dramas for the BBC at Alexandra Palace, was Theatre Manager and Director of the weekly rep at the Royalty Theatre for four years before working for the BBC. Sadly the Royalty Theatre was another victim of the Country wide Theatre closures during the 1950s and was demolished in 1957. If you have any more information or images you are willing to share for this Theatre please Contact me. |
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The Devonshire Hall, 13-17 Devonshire Road, Morecambe Later The Hothouse
Above - The former Devonshire Hall, Morecambe in 2010 - Courtesy KR
Right - A contemporary cutting from the 'Dangerfield General Entertainment Guide of 1901 - Courtesy Roger Fox. In 2010 the building is something of a hidden gem as although the Ground Floor is in use, and has been for many years, by a company called 'More Music' as a musical community centre, studio, rehearsals rooms, and offices, collectively called 'The Hothouse', above them, undisturbed and unused for years, lie the remains of the original Music Hall, (See Photos Below).
Above - The remains of the original Devonshire Hall, Morecambe lie hidden above the false ceiling of More Music, Morecambe - Photo 2010 Courtesy KR.
Above - The remains of the original Devonshire Hall, Morecambe lie hidden above the false ceiling of More Music, Morecambe - Photo 2010 Courtesy KR.
Above - The remains of the original Devonshire Hall, Morecambe lie hidden above the false ceiling of More Music, Morecambe - Photo 2010 Courtesy KR. The upstairs of the Devonshire Hall was used as a Snooker Hall called 'The Dev' from the 1930s whilst downstairs was used as a paint factory and then a shop until More Music took over the lower part in 1996. In 2008 however, the company acquired the whole building and hope to be able to incorporate the original upstairs of the Music Hall into their workspace so that they can become a music training and education centre for the North West. So far this has not come to fruition though.
Above - The Ground floor of the former Devonshire Hall in use as a home for More Music, Morecambe - Photo 2010 Courtesy KR.
Above - The former Devonshire Hall, Morecambe in 2010 - Courtesy KR |
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Above - The Side elevation of the Devonshire Hall, Morecambe in 2008 - Courtesy Peter Charlton
Above - The remains of the original Devonshire Hall, Morecambe lie hidden above the false ceiling of More Music, Morecambe - Photo Courtesy Peter Charlton 2008. |
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The Morecambe Baths, Palace, and Aquarium - Regent Park, Regent Road, Morecambe.
Above - Advertisement from a September 1st 1879 programme for Morecambe Aquarium advertising Arthur Lloyd & his company appearing in 'Two Hours Of Genuine Fun' for the following week.
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Abandoned from the mid 1890s, the land was eventually bought by Morecambe Council in 1924. Over £25,000 was spent in creating the new Park which opened in 1926. The Park has recently had a face-lift and remains popular for its fine bowling greens.
Above - Programme cover for Morecambe Aquarium
for week of 8th September 1879
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Above - Programme for Morecambe Aquarium for week
of 8th September 1879
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Above - Back of Programme for Morecambe Aquarium
for week of 8th September 1879 |
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Above - Morecambe Alhambra Theatre and sea front Promenade - From a postcard 1910 The Morecambe Alhambra Theatre was built in 1901 but was converted to a cinema in 1930 and gutted by fire internally in 1970. The building is now used as a disco and although the fly tower is still present the stage has been bricked off. |
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The Winter Gardens and Victoria Pavilion Theatre, Morecambe
Above - The Morecambe Winter Gardens from a Postcard
Right and Below - A Programme for 'The Charlie Chester Show' at the Morecambe Winter Gardens in 1957 - Courtesy Susan Clarke.
You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here. |
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Above - A page from the catalogue of Dean and Co who were theatre decorators, providing plasterwork, seating, drapes and most other decorative items to make your theatre look its best. This shows their work at Morecambe's Winter Gardens' Victoria Pavilion Theatre, note the Opera House name which was never actually used, however the architects and the fact that Matcham was only the Consultant Architect are confirmed - Courtesy Roger Fox. |
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The Winter Gardens and Victoria
Pavilion Theatre, Morecambe
Above - The Auditorium of the Winter Gardens' Victoria Pavilion Theatre, Morecambe in 1990 - Courtesy Ted Bottle.
This theatre never really paid its way during the Moss years and would be closed for long periods in the Winter. It was very successful however in the summer for a long period of time when it was the home of the Black and White Minstrels. Right - The Auditorium and Stage of the Winter Gardens'
Victoria Pavilion Theatre, Morecambe during assessment work for the
proposed renovation of the Theatre in September 2008 - Courtesy Roger
Fox. Note the act number boards which are still in place and are in
the unusual position at the base of the proscenium columns. Louis Benjiman who later became the last managing director of Moss Empires was the first Manager for the company from 1954 when it took over. He was succeeded by Wililiam Bevan who stayed there until the complex closed in the early sixties. The objectionable Scottish stage manager from the Leeds Empire was transferred here after it closed he was supposed to be well out of the way here. He soon created the same bad atmosphere backstage as he had done at Leeds. The manager was taxing him about his behavior outside on the fairground one morning and the objectionable stage manager punched him on the jaw and laid him out. That was the end of the objectionable Scottish man as far as Moss Empire was concerned and it was not before time.
Above - Auditorium of the Winter Gardens' Victoria Pavilion Theatre, Morecambe in 1990 - Courtesy Ted Bottle. When the populations of the Lancashire and Yorkshire industrial towns and cities started to go to Spain for their holidays Morecambe quickly became a cemetery with lights as Eric Morecambe called it. The Winter Gardens closed in the mid sixties and the complex fell into dereliction. The fair ground was closed and cleared and all buildings within the complex except the theatre were demolished. The poor old place now stands forlornly in the middle of waste ground but it is intact. There are plans to reopen it as a tribute to the late Thora Hird who was born in the town but there is a desperate shortage of money for the project so it is doubtful if it will happen. There is also the question of viability because Morecambe is now almost a ghost town. The theatre is a listed building and it would be nice to see the dear old place open again. Above text by Donald Auty from his article on Moss Empires in the 50s.
Above - The Auditorium and Stage of the Winter Gardens' Victoria Pavilion Theatre, Morecambe during assessment work for the proposed renovation of the Theatre in September 2008 - Courtesy Roger Fox. The Morecambe Winter Gardens' Victoria Pavilion is currently undergoing assessment work for the proposed renovation of the Theatre. You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here. |
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The
Devonshire Hall, Morecambe was built as a 
This
popular park was once Morecambe's principal entertainment centre
called the Summer Gardens. Built in the 19th Century they included
a circus, ballroom, aquarium, conservatory,
café, racecourse and a boating pool. The racecourse was surrounded
by a wide dyke which was used for skating in the winter. 
The
Morecambe Winter Gardens' Theatre opened as a 
The
Winter Gardens closed in the mid sixties and the complex fell into dereliction,
and then the Theatre itself closed in 1977. Since then the charity organisation
The Friends of The Winter Gardens has worked to protect the building,
and campaigned for its restoration. In 2006 they formed a Trust called
the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust Limited, who in February
the same year purchased the building. The Trustees say 'they are working
hard with the help of officers of Lancaster City Council and the North
West Development Agency to put together capital funding for the interior
restoration,' and are hoping to gain part of the £45m of grants
in the Government's coastal resorts funding. The Trust has also put
together an application for Lottery funding. If the Trust is successful
then it is hoped that restoration of the Winter Gardens' Victoria Pavilion
Theatre will be completed within the next four years.
This
theatre was part of a complex that contained a ballroom, bars and
restaurants and there was also a fairground at the rear. It is one
of the largest in Britain, almost 3000 seats and was opened in 
