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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Theatres and Halls in Plymouth Theatre Royal - Palace Theatre - Grand Theatre - Royal Cinema Later The Royal Cinema
Above - Early coloured postcard showing George Street
and the Theatre Royal, Plymouth which was probably commissioned by Moon's
Pianos, which, at its peak, had 5 shops in total all over Devon &
Cornwall. The business was sold in about 1963, and the shop in Plymouth
is now a Mcdonalds Burger Bar.
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Right - A Programme for 'The Messenger Boy' at The Theatre Royal Plymouth in the late 1800s. A musical by James T Tanner and Alfred Murray. - Click for details. This play was later performed at Daly's Theatre, London in 1901 (Now a VUE Cinema multiplex.) Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in 1856, 1857, 1871 (See below.) If you were looking for the present Theatre Royal, Plymouth please click here...
According to one historian, 'In the 1820s and 1830s epidemics of cholera and smallpox, transportation to America and nonconformist hostility from increasing groups led to a decline in support of the theatre. By 1820 the theatre, "from its size and beauty and being so seldom filled," had acquired the title of "The Theatre of Splendid Misery."' Left - A Programme for 'The Price of Wisdom' at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in 1932 - Click for details. |
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Above - The original Theatre Royal, Plymouth from a postcard, undated. Back of card reads: 'The Theatre Royal is owned by the Municipal Authority of Plymouth. Besides the Theatre the building contains an excellent Hotel. Derry's clock is the gift of a former Mayor of Plymouth and is generally regarded as a landmark of the town.' This original Theatre Royal, Plymouth was demolished in 1937 to make way for an ABC Cinema called The Royal which was designed by William R Glenn and opened on Friday July 15th 1938. Ironically in 1954 the Cinema was converted for stage use and renamed the Theatre Royal. The Cinema / Theatre was renamed the ABC Plymouth in 1958 but continued to stage live shows alongside Cinema. In 1976 the Cinema was tripled and has had several changes of name and ownership since.
Above - A 1920s Postcard of George Street and the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. The Theatre Royal Plymouth was the first true theatre which Arthur Lloyd played in. His father was a comedian of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Theatres on the old “circuit” days. Arthur wished to follow in his footsteps, and was put out, as it were, when he was only sixteen years of age, with a celebrated manager of his time, Mr J. R. Newcombe, and was sent to his theatre at Plymouth. He remained two seasons with him, playing, of course, only very small parts, being, in fact, “general utility.” After two seasons at Plymouth the young comedian went back to Glasgow. |
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The Palace Theatre, 121-123 Union Street, Plymouth Also known as The New Palace Theatre of Varieties / Academy Nightclub
Above - The New Palace Theatre of Varieties, Union Street, Plymouth - From a Variety Programme for the Theatre for September the 25th 1905.
Although the auditorium, which consisted of Stalls and two Balconies, was originally as elaborate as the Theatre's exterior, only eight months after opening a serious fire destroyed the auditorium and the subsequent restoration was in a far simpler form. Once the auditorium had been rebuilt the Theatre reopened as the New Palace Theatre of Varieties on May 22nd 1899. Seven years later there were furthur alterations when a sliding roof was installed in 1906. Right - A Variety Programme for the New Palace of Varieties Theatre for September the 25th 1905.
Left - A scene of the Spanish Armada Leaving Ferrol is depicted in painted tiles on the exterior of the Palace Theatre, Plymouth - Courtesy Richard Lawrie. |
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Above - A Frieze depicting sailing ships runs around the top of the Palace Theatre, Plymouth - Courtesy Richard Lawrie.
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The building was converted for Bingo in 1961 and then had a varied life of occasional Theatre use and Bingo for many years until it was once more refurbished in 1978 and reopened as a live Theatre again.
Above - The Auditorium of the Palace Theatre, Plymouth in 1982 - Courtesy Ted Bottle In 1982 the new Theatre Royal opened in Plymouth and this was a major blow for the old Palace, sadly the building's short revival to live Theatre was to end the following year and in 1983 the Theatre closed and was converted for nightclub use as the Academy.
Above - Side elevation of The Palace Theatre, Plymouth in 2008 - Courtesy Richard Lawrie. In 2008 the Palace Theatre is currently empty and disused and is slowly falling into disrepair. Although the Theatre is still standing it is hoped that this major Grade II listed building will one day be restored to its former glory and returned to live theatrical use. The stage of the Palace Theatre is 28 foot deep by 60 foot wide with a Proscenium opening of 29 foot, 6 inches, and the grid height is 58 foot. |
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Grand Theatre, Union Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth
The Theatre opened on the 26th of December the same year with a production of the pantomime 'Cinderella.' The auditorium was built on three levels, Stalls, Dress Circle, and Gallery and the stage was 48 feet deep by 60 wide. The Theatre was renamed the Grand Theatre and Picture Palace in 1909 when it reopened under new management with a policy of Variety and Film. In 1930 the Theatre was granted a Cinema License and reopened on the 14th of May showing three films a day, although it was still known as a Theatre rather than an actual Cinema. Still in use as a Cinema though the Grand succumbed to the ravishes of war when it was bombed in March 1941. Despite the permission for it to be rebuilt being granted after the war it never was and ended its life as a boat builders yard for the American market in the late 1950s. The Grand Theatre was finally demolished in 1963. Right - Poster for a Revue called 'All Smiles' at the Grand Theatre, Plymouth on Monday the 21st of November 1927 - Courtesy Stephen Wischhusen. For more information and images of Theatres in Plymouth you may like to visit this website. |
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The
Palace Theatre on Union Street, Plymouth was built for the Livermore
Brothers in 
The
Theatre was refurbished in 1949 but closed in 1954. Furthur refurbishment
and an enlarged stage enabled the Theatre to reopen again in October
1956 but this was to be short lived.
The
Grand Theatre was built for Mr Henry E. Reed, who had previously been
running the 
