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____________________________________________________________________________________________ Theatres and Halls in Sheffield, South Yorkshire Sheffield's Current Theatres
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Crucible Theatre, Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
Above - Postcard for the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, was built at a time when Sheffield had lost all its major Theatres and had only one small venue left in operation, namely the Library Theatre (See Below). In 1969 work began on a new Theatre for the City, The Crucible, with a thrust stage and a steeply raked auditorium with a capacity of 900. Attached to the Theatre is a small Studio Theatre with a capacity of 400. The Crucible is now one of Britain's touring venues and a Producing House in its own right, and is also famous for being the home of the World Snooker Championship, screened on TVs all over the world every year. If you have any images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me... For more details on all of Sheffield's current Theatres and shows click here...
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Lyceum Theatre, Tudor Street, Sheffield, S1 2LA
Above - The Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield from a postcard sold in aid of the Lyceum Theatre Appeal - Courtesy Save London's Theatres Campaign.
The Lyceum was one of Sheffield's major Theatres until 1968 when, like so many others at the time, it was converted for Bingo use. This was not a success however and in 1972 the owners submitted a planning application for demolition of the building. This thankfully was refused and the Theatre was put up for sale but there was little interest, partly because of the new Crucible Theatre which had been built next door. The Lyceum remained dark for many years and its future looked bleak. Some work was done on the building however in order to preserve its structure from dry rot. Right - Programme for 'Charley's Aunt' at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield for the week beginning Monday the 14th of November 1921. In 1990 the Lyceum was given a reprieve when Sheffield became home to the World Student Games. The stage house was rebuilt, the main entrance was moved, dressing rooms were improved, and the auditorium was completely restored so that the Lyceum was finally back in business again after two decades of neglect and reopened in December 1990.
Above - A Matchbox Model Van with a Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield banner. The Lyceum Theatre is now Sheffield's major touring house but is also home to Sheffield's home grown productions too. If you have any more images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me... For more details on all of Sheffield's current Theatres and shows click here...
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Library Theatre, Tudor Place, Sheffield The Library Theatre, Sheffield was built as a Lecture Theatre inside an existing building next door to Sheffield's Lyceum Theatre (See above). The Theatre was used as an air rade shelter during the war but in 1947 some dressing rooms were included so that the hall could become a legitimate Theatre. Due to its small stage and less than adequate sight lines however the Theatre was redesigned in 1961 when a proscenium arch was added, the stage enlarged, foyer spaces were added, and the auditorium raked. If you have any images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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Abbeydale Picture House, Abbeydale Road, Sheffield The Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield was built as a Cinema with stage facilities and was opened by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield on the 20th December 1920 with a capacity of 1,500. From 1928 the Theatre was used as a Cine Variety house but in 1930 it was converted for Talkies. The Theatre closed in 1975 and became an office furniture showroom and warehouse but it was awarded a Grade II listing in 1989 because so much of the Theatre was still intact. For some years the Abbeydale has been home to the Bar Abbey and the Abbey Snooker Club but in 2003 the Friends of Abbeydale Picture House was formed and the Theatres future looks a little brighter. Visit the Abbeydale Picture House Website here...
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Montgomery Theatre, Surrey Street, Sheffield
Above - The Montgomery Hall - Courtesy The Sheffield Christian Education Council The Montgomery Theatre in Surrey Street Sheffield was built as a meeting hall for the Sheffield Sunday Schools Union (now known as the Sheffield Christian Education Council) in memory of James Montgomery in 1886. It was used as a Theatre apart from a break during the war when it was used by the government. Following a fire in 1971 it was refurbished as a traditional style Theatre. It is a small friendly theatre with 427 seats on two levels. Many Amateur Dramatic Societies and Dancing Schools still consider Montgomery Theatre as their home and the theatre hosts several amateur operatic and dancing school shows each year as well as a couple of pantomimes and several end of year shows for some of the Sheffield Schools. Text and image Courtesy The Sheffield Christian Education Council who own the Montgomery Theatre. You may like to visit the Theatre's own website here... |
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The Empire Theatre / Empire Palace Theatre, Charles Street and Pinstone Street, Sheffield
Above - The Sheffield Empire - From a postcard. The Empire Theatre, Sheffield was built by the renowned Theatre architect Frank Matcham and opened on Monday November the 4th 1895. The Theatre was demolished in 1963.
The manager during the fifties was Johnny Spitzer an enormous man. He lived at the Grand Hotel where he had a special deal. He used to have numerous large meals sent over from the hotel during the day and would sit in his office in front of the television set on his desk that was switched on all the time and eat them. The staff wondered what would happen if ever Val Parnell the managing director walked in. He did one day and the assistant manager went into the office to find both Val and Johnny sitting in front of the television and both eating enormous meals. Maurice Dixon was musical director and presided over an excellent thirteen piece orchestra. The stage manager was Ernie Fenton and his son the first dayman, they were both smashing people and I had many a lovely week there. Right - Sheffield Empire Programme 1911 - Click for entire Programme
Left - Programme for the New Sheffield Empire Palace - Courtesy Peter Charlton. The Empire was sold for its prime site value and closed in the late fifties and demolished. Johnny Sptizer was promoted to head of publicity for Moss Empires but still continued to live at the Grand Hotel and eat enormous meals. Above Text from Moss Empires Theatres in the fifties written for this site by Donald Auty. The Last Musical Director at the
Sheffield Empire was Maurice Newton ( Not Dixson) He was loved by visiting
artistes and was always willing to rewrite their band parts which were
often almost unplayable. - This info was kindly sent in by Alan
Chudley.
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Adelphi Theatre, Sheffield The Adelphi Theatre, Sheffield was built in 1865 and was subsequently demolished in 1914. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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Britannia Music Hall, Sheffield The Britannia Music Hall, Sheffield was built in 1869 and demolished after a fire in 1992. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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Ecclesfield Cinema House /Essoldo, Sheffield The Ecclesfield Cinema House opened on the 1st of January 1921. The Cinema closed on the 7th of February 1959 and was totally emptied within a month. The Cinema was demolished in June 1970. This information Courtesy Nigel Womersley. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me... |
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Grand Theatre / Bijou Theatre / New Star Theatre, Sheffield This Theatre was built in 1904 and demolished in 1939. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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Hippodrome Theatre / Gaumont Cinema, Sheffield The Hippodrome was built in 1907 by Bertie Crewe and demolished in 1963. This theatre was one of several large Hippodromes opened by Tom Barrasford in direct opposition to Oswald Stoll, then managing director of Moss empires, and his own Stoll Tour. Barrasford died in 1910 and the Sheffield Hippodrome became part of Walter De Frece's "Variety Theatre's Controlling Company", which in 1921 became part of the London Variety Theatres, they went bankrupt in 1928 and were taken over in 1929 by General Theatres Corporation, part of Gaumont British Cinemas. In 1933 Gaumont British came to an agreement with Moss Empires,which resulted in the Hippodrome becoming a Gaumont Cinema thus removing deadly competition from the Empire. This info was kindly sent in by Alan Chudley. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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Palace Theatre, Attercliffe Road, Sheffield The Palace Theatre was built in 1896 by Martin & Blomfield Jackson. It was reconstructed in 1933 and demolished in 1961. The Palace Theatre Attercliff was in the Attercliffe road about 300 yards down from Burton's Corner, this was the variety house, which closed on 27th June 1955 with a revue; "Strip, Sauce and Spice" Both this and the Theatre Royal (See Below) were at one time Mc Naughton Theatres. The Palace Attercliffe was opened by Frank McNaughton on 3rd January 1898, as The Alhambra. The theatre was not sucessful under Mc Naughton and was later renamed the Palace and was sold off to T.Allan Edwards of Derby. The Theatre was sold off again to the Roberto Brothers and converted into a cinema in 1913 . Much later ( Possibly late 1920 or early 1930s) it was sold to a local architect, Mr Walker, whose sons Speed and Jack reopened it as a Variety house. The architect of the Palace was A Bloomfield Jackson and the Theatre had a seating capacity of 1,600. I knew it as a number two variety house with many strip shows. Frankly the Palace left much to be desired. It was the bain of touring stage managers; the stage was only 16 feet deep and very badly equiped, the dressing rooms were very poor, however on the plus side the audiences were great from a performers point of view which had an atmosphere like the Met in the Edgware Road and the Glasgow Pavillion, and the eight piece Palace orchestra was renowed for its excellence. The top price in the 1940s was only two shillings. The Palace had many characters on its staff. This info was kindly sent in by Alan Chudley. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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Theatre Royal / Regal Cinema, Pinfold Lane, Sheffield The Theatre Royal Attercliff was about 100 yards from Burton's Corner in Staniforth Road. This later became the Regal Cinema. This theatre and the Palace Theatre (See Above) at one time were both Mc Naughton Theatres. The Theatre Royal, Attercliffe opened on the 26th of July 1897 with; "No Cross, No Crown" as the Peoples Palace and became the Regal cinema in the 1920s. The Theatre was in Pinfold Lane ( now know as Staniford Road) and was just around the corner from the Palace. Both Theatres have been demolished This info was kindly sent in by Alan Chudley. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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The Playhouse, Sheffield The Playhouse was built in 1958 but has since been demolished. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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Regent / Gaumont, Sheffield The Regent, later known as the Gaumont, was built in 1927 by W. E. Trent and demolished sometime after 1985. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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The Surrey Music Hall, Sheffield
Above - The Surrey Theatre on fire - From The Illustrated London News of 1865. The Surrey Music Hall was built in 1851 and was demolished after a fire in 1865. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me...
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The Theatre Royal, Tudour Street, Sheffield
Right - Advertisement for 'Sherlock Holmes' at the Theatre Royal, Sheffield in November 1921 - From a Lyceum Theatre Sheffield Programme. The Theatre Royal was burnt out in December 1935 and demolished the following year. This info was kindly sent in by Alan Chudley. If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact Me... Many of the details and dates for past Theatres in Sheffield were gleaned from the Theatres Trust Guide. |
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The
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield was built by the Theatre architect 
One
week I was getting the show out on Saturday night. The bill toppers
were Donald Peers and Jimmy James. Jimmy came down onto the stage and
called me over to the prompt corner. He asked me to lend him a tenner
for his train fare to the next town. What did you do with the £250
I paid you yesterday I asked him, this was a lot of money in the mid
fifties. I owed it all at the bookies Jimmy replied. He was a great
gambler and went bankrupt through it. He suffered a stroke whilst on
a summer season in Skegness and could not work any more. He had no money
so a benefit performance was organised for him at the 
The
Theatre Royal, Sheffield was altered in 
