Theatre Royal
49 Peter Street,
Manchester,
M2 3NQ
49 Peter Street,
Manchester,
M2 3NQ
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Opened September 29, 1845 and designed by Messrs. Irwin & Chester, the interior was reconstructed by Edward Salomons in 1875. It operated as a live theatre until 1921 when films were introduced, and quickly took over. It was the second city cinema to install sound in January 1929.
Major changes were made to the theater to allow cinema use — the three balconies were removed and replaced by two new balconies and the stage was also moved back and largely incorporated into the auditorium. However the interior was still very rich with a particularly elaborate proscenium arch and the original sumptuous ceiling (with similarities to that of Covent Garden, London) survived.
3D was intoduced in 1953 and in 1963 the seating capacity was reduced to 1,000 when the Theatre Royal was converted to Manchester’s only Cinerama theater. A huge screen measuring 65 feet by 28 feet was installed. But, as elsewhere, the lack of new Cinerama films took its toll, and in 1972 it closed and became a bingo hall.
After bingo vacated the building it became a disco named Royale and has recently had a major revamp. As it is a Grade II Listed building, much of the interior survives.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
do you have a link to the Manchester local archives website ?
http//www.manchester.gov.uk/localimages Try not to be misled if you get directed to the Manchester city Council Libraries homepage you will find it a dead end.
yeah I found the images…….amazing…thank you.
Can you please post the link? Thanks
djmarkoneuk: Are you a Manchester resident? Maybe you could sweet talk the Manchester Evening News into letting us know if they have any archive photos also. I’m eager to get hold of newspaper ads from the 1960’s with the Cinerama logo on.
I do live in Mancheste yes…but I have tried the M.E.N. in the past for other archive articles….the best way would to contact Manchester Central Libraries Archive department.
Ok thanks. Will do. in the meantime there is an article you may be interested in View link
No pictures,however.
Great news!
The Library THeatre Company, one of the countries top theatre company’s is to make the Theatre Royal its new home.
The company will move out of its current home at Manchester Library ad have the Theatre Royal brought up to the standards of a modern producing theatre.
Two 1988 shots here when the building was in a poor state as the Buckingham Bingo Club:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4513528783/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4513528501/
Amazing how owners can let their grand and glorious buildings go to that sad sorry state in the pics above.
Better days lie ahead for this gem.