Detailed Information

The original Theatre Royal, in the early 1800’s

Newcastle’s original Theatre Royal opened on 21st January 1788, located on Drury Lane, off Mosley Street.

Just under 50 years later, in 1836, the original theatre obstructed plans for the redevelopment of the city centre and so was demolished in late 1836 to make way for redevelopment and a new theatre building on the-then new Grey Street.

The theatre on its present site was designed by John and Benjamin Green, a father and son partnership based in northeast England. The theatre was the flagship of Richard Grainger’s grand plan for the centre of Newcastle and was managed by Montague Penley, opened in February 1837 with a production of “The Merchant of Venice”.

In 1867, renowned theatre architect C.J. Phipps was employed to redesign the interior. The work took seven weeks, at the culmination of which the Newcastle Courant reported that “the interior of the building has been thoroughly re-decorated and various important alterations have been made”. The Builder reported that “The Greek style has been adopted. The principal ceiling is of a light turquoise, enriched with ornamental borders. Bold honeysuckle and other ornaments are painted on the box facings, in colours turquoise, blue, red, and gold, being enriched further with stencilled borders, mouldings of gilt, crimson rasters for the arms, and vandyked valances of rich amber damask. All parts below the level of the dress circle are coloured with a full Indian red”.

In 1895 the auditorium and front of house areas were reconstructed in a “fireproof” design of concrete and iron, according to the plans of Walter Emden in conjunction with W. Lister Newcombe. The new auditorium, of Renaissance design and accommodating up to 1,900, was created within the shell of Benjamin Green’s original auditorium. The original rotunda, which resembled that of the rotunda at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, was retained. Electric lighting was introduced with gas lighting kept as a back-up. Work was carried out by Mr. W.C. Tyrie of Newcastle, the constructional ironwork by Messrs Lindsay, Neal & Co. of London, and the decorative plasterwork by the Veronese Co. of London. The 1895 reconstruction was not successful as the sight lines and acoustics were said to have been pretty poor.

In the early hours of 24th of November 1899 the theatre suffered a catastrophic fire. The fire was thought to have started near the stage. The stagehouse was reduced to charred remains and the auditorium was completely wrecked save for the rear wall. With the John and Benjamin Green exterior of the building having survived it was decided that the theatre would be rebuilt.

Prolific UK theatre architect Frank Matcham was employed to completely redesign the interior. It is Matcham’s 1901 Edwardian auditorium interior which survives today. Matcham’s auditorium was French Renaissance in style, featuring white and gold relieved by crimson. Matcham knew the theatre’s imposing classical façade was timeless and so left it well alone.

Refurbished auditorium in 2022

In 1912, programming came to be under the direction of Howard & Wyndham Ltd, a theatre owning, producing, and management company. By the 1930s Howard & Wyndham would own the theatre.

Newcastle City Council took over ownership in 1967. In the late 1980s the theatre underwent significant alterations and repairs, reopening in early January 1988 with “A Man For All Seasons” starring Charlton Heston.

In 2011 the theatre underwent a major £4.75 million restoration lasting six-months, the focus of which was the restoration of the auditorium back to Matcham’s original 1901 design. Besides protecting traditional features, the restoration recreated in remarkable detail the colours and patterns of its sumptuous Edwardian furnishings with wallpapers reprinted and luxury carpet installed which echoed the look of the period. Wallpaper was reprinted, carpet designs recreated, and missing tiles replaced. The 1837 portico was repaired and architectural lighting installed. The six-month project preserved the original plasterwork of the auditorium ceiling and restored gold leaf on the proscenium arch, tiers and boxes. Lost tilework was replaced and period light fittings and brassware can be admired throughout. As for the auditorium’s plush red velvet seats, the theatre proudly describes them as "1901 in style but modern in comfort". The theatre reopened on 12th September 2012 with Alan Bennett’s period drama “The Madness of King George III”.