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There have been three 'New Theatres' on the same site in George Street since 1836 up to the present day. The first Theatre was affectionately known as the 'Vic', later the 'Theatre Royale', after the company which played there. Companies were forbidden to perform plays during the University terms, and so the lessee's resorted to presenting 'Concerts', or 'Music Hall'. However by 1880 the Theatre was quite run-down and eventually caught fire and had to be demolished.

Right - The New Theatre, Oxford in May 2011 - Courtesy Tim Speechley.

The Theatre was replaced by Drinkwater's 'New Theatre' in 1886. Mr H.G.W. Drinkwater F.R.I.B.A. had designed the new Theatre which was built by Messrs Wilkins and Sons. The main entrance was at the angle of the building directly into a vestibule of hexagonal shape, being 28 feet long by 14 feet wide and 14 feet high. The floor was in marble mosaic and the walls were panelled to a height of 8 feet. From this vestibule two doors led into a six foot wide corridor which ran around the Dress Circle, at the end of which were access to the Stalls. The inner circle or Pit was entered directly from the entrance vestibule, but the Gallery had a separate entrance in Victoria Place. The Auditorium was handsome and well proportioned forming a circle 48 feet in diameter holding 900 people. The front of the Dress Circle and Gallery were divided by small fluted pilasters and richly panelled. The Stalls seats were upholstered in crimson velvet, with the Dress Circle seats upholstered in rep. The seats in the Pit were padded and had a back rail. The auditorium was lit by a sunlight supplied by Messrs Strode of London, with a ventilating shaft, to carry away gas fumes etc. Opening off the promenade, which surrounded the pit, was a refreshment bar with another one in the circle.

Above - A sketch from 'The Graphic' of the 27th of February 1886 on the opening of the New Theatre, Oxford - Courtesy B.F

The proscenium was 24 feet square with the stage being 33 feet deep having all the necessary sloates, slides, traps, and bridges fitted, under the supervision of Mr H.B. Bridges from The Prince of Wales Theatre, Liverpool, responsible for all the machinery for working the scenery. New scenery had been painted by Mr R.J.Haines, the act drop having a view of Iffley Mill in its centre, below and around which in the border were the arms of the various colleges. Backstage there were twelve dressing rooms. Two water mains were situated on stage with hydrants at each level, and two in the auditorium with similar hydrants at each floor, with hose attached. A green baize water curtain was provided at the proscenium opening. The plans had been approved by Captain Shaw C.B. Chief of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Left - The auditorium of the New Theatre, Oxford in May 2011 - Courtesy Tim Speechley.

The grand opening took place on Saturday 13th February 1886 with a production of ' Twelfth Night' performed by The Oxford University Dramatic Society, of which the 'New Theatre' was to be their home. The Theatre continued its life with performances of the Oxford University Dramatic Society, Town Players, and professionals, until 1892 when the Theatre was damaged by fire.

In 1908 the Dorrill family took over the Theatre (which they ran for the next 64 years). The Theatre was redesigned, enlarged and remodelled by W.G.R.Sprague to seat 1,200 people.

However, by 1933 Stanley Dorrill wanted a more luxurious and comfortable Theatre, and commissioned Theatre architects William and T.R. Milburn of Sunderland to design a new modern Theatre for him. The Milburn brothers again seem to have remodelled the existing building, co-operating with T.P. Bennett & Sons (who designed the Saville Theatre, London) on an Art Deco interior. This third Theatre had a stone façade again with a corner entrance, and opened in February 1934, fitted with a wonderful revolving stage.

Right - A photograph of the Revolving Stage mechanism at the New Theatre, Oxford in 2010 - Courtesy Roger Fox.

The audience capacity of the New Theatre was now 2,000 (1,710 seated). The Art Deco auditorium has a high arched proscenium with a pelmet set deep within a banded ante-proscenium. There are no boxes, the auditorium having two balconies, the lower one divided into the Dress and Upper circle. The decoration is Roman stud decoration terminating at the proscenium. The Theatre has a difficult 'get in' because the stage is 2 metres (6 feet 8 inches) below street level.

Right - A photograph of one of the extant 'Number Boards' at the New Theatre, Oxford in 2010 - Courtesy Roger Fox.

In 1933 the colour scheme was originally shades of deep brown with gilt friezes, but this was later changed to a multi colour scheme which did not reflect the original design.

Above - A group of people enjoying a drink at the bar of the New Theatre Oxford in the early 1940s - Courtesy Patricia Smith whose mother, Phyllis Gibbons, is standing centre. Patricia says: 'She [Phyllis] married my Dad whilst he was stationed in Oxford during the war. She lived at 12, Thames Street with her parents James and Ada Gibbons and often spoke about her days working at the New Theatre where she met many artists like Tommy Trinder and Flannigan and Allen.' If you know who any of the other people in the photograph are please Contact me.

The stage has a 13.72 metre proscenium width (46 feet 4 inches). The stage is 11 metres deep (36 feet), with a height to the grid of 18.6 metres (60 feet). The original orchestra seated 24 musicians.

The Theatre became famous for its pantomimes featuring the 'Vera Legge's Oxford Babes' during the war years, and continued to thrive until the advent of TV in the 1950's, where upon it then struggled like many provincial Theatres, but still presented a mixed programme of performances.

In 1972 the Dorrill family sold the Theatre to the Howard & Wyndhams Theatre chain, who in 1977 sold the Theatre on to Apollo Leisure. Apollo changed the Theatre's name then to the 'Apollo Theatre' Oxford. However, they were bought out in 1999 by SFX, who were then bought by Clear Channel Entertainment in 2001. The Theatre was then refurbished in 2003 and the name reverted to 'The New Theatre'. Clear Channel Entertainment's Theatres division became Live Nation, who two years later sold out to the 'Ambassador Theatre Group' who bought the Theatre in 2009.

Left - A programme for 'Duel of Angels' at the New Theatre, Oxford in April 1958. The cast included Derek Nimmo, Peter Wyngarde, Fiona Duncan, Vivien Leigh, Basil Hoskins, Claire Bloom, Pauline Jameson, Beaufoy Milton, Freda Jackson, Brian Harrison, Robin Bailey, Laurence Davidson, and John Hart Dyke.

The Theatre's current seating capacity is 1,800, and continues to provide varied entertainment for the citizens of Oxford, presenting Welsh National Opera, English National Ballet, West End and Broadway musicals and plays, contemporary dance, pop concerts, and stand up comedy.

You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here.

The above article was written for this site by David Garratt and kindly sent in for inclusion in 2011. The article is © David Garratt 2011.

If you have any more images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.