Date:14th of August 1951
Description:Hanley's Theatre Royal had a long and colourful history until its closure in 2000. In 1850 a disused Methodist Chapel on Brunswick Street was converted into a chartist lecture hall by Thomas Hinde, and renamed 'the People's Hall'. In 1871 a new 'Theatre Royal' was built on the same site which was then gutted rebuilt in 1887 by Charles Phipps and Frank Matcham (with extensions in 1894 by Matcham). It was this theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1949.. It was rebuilt and reopened on 14 August 1951. In 1961 it was sold to Mecca who operated it as a Bingo hall for twenty years. It reopened as a theatre in 1982, closed again in 1996, and was purchased by Mike Lloyd and refurbished in 1997. The curtain finally fell when Mike Lloyd's business empire collapsed in 2000. It has since been converted into bars. This newspaper cutting shows the grand re-opening on 14th August 1951. The Theatre Royal re-opened with Newcastle Operatic Society's production of "Annie Get Your Gun". The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, H. Wallace-Copeland performed the opening ceremony.
The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.
Priscilla Handforth (1857-1902, nee Moores), wife of Edwin Handforth (1854-1942) ...
Edwin Handforth (1854-1942) owned a drapery business and hat shop at 45 Picadilly, ...
Theatre Royal interior before it was destroyed by fire in 1949. Hanley's Theatre ...
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Image courtesy of: Shawna & Gerald
Donor ref:Theatre Royal Grand Re-Opening 1951-crop.jpg (55/23616)
Source: Miscellaneous Collection
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