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October 24th 2019
Norwich Theatre Royal
Jason Raper
Just over 50 members of the Heritage Society were entertained by a lively and well researched talk given by Jason Raper on the 261 years history of Norwich’s Theatre Royal.
Earlier the city had enjoyed many dramatic performances, notably by the Norwich Company of Comedians, who were performing at the White Swan Inn in the years before the Theatre Royal was born. The pub stood opposite the site of the present Theatre Royal, but in 1757 Thomas Ivory, who was responsible for the Octagon Chapel and other notable Norwich buildings, had the first Theatre Royal built next to the Assembly House. A drawing of the “new theatre”, as it was called, still survives and was shown.
In its early days it was referred to as the Grand Concert Hall, but not for long. Its interior was based on that of the famous Drury Lane Theatre. On the opening night in January 1758 William Congreve’s comedy The Way of the World and Henry Fielding’s farce The Mock Doctor were performed.
At the beginning of the 19th century some renovation took place. Numerous fascinating playbills of the Georgian period and a ticket for 1837, which had survived, were shown. In 1826 a new Theatre Royal was erected by William Wilkins junior. Among many famous performers who graced the Theatre Royal in those days were Sarah Siddons, “Queen of Theatre”, Edmund Kean, acknowledged as one of the greatest actors of his time, composer-musician Niccolo Paganini, Tom Thumb and his wife, Mrs. Church and the Great Blondin of tightrope fame.
In the 1890s the theatre became the first building in the city to be totally electric. For a short time at the beginning of the last century it was called the Norwich Hippodrome, but soon the Grand Opera House, which was opened in St Giles’ in 1903, became the Hippodrome and the Theatre Royal reverted to its original name.
On June 22 1934 the theatre was destroyed by a furious fire, but it was soon rebuilt under Jack Gladwin, who managed it from 1926 to 1956. Although Norwich suffered badly from bombing during World War Two, the theatre survived and when warnings of air raids were relayed to the audience refuge could be sought in a shelter in Chapelfield Gardens. However, there were close shaves when three incendiary bombs fell but were quickly extinguished and when a big unexploded bomb was found in Theatre Street. For a time from 1956 the theatre screened films.
The flamboyant Irishman Dick Condon made his mark as manager from 1972, breathing new life into the theatre, which was flagging a bit. However, he died in 1991 and the following year the highly regarded Peter Wilson took over as manager and chief executive till recently. During his tenure Stage Two was opened next door in 2016 as an educational centre for drama with courses and workshops.
In recent years there have been many impressive shows, among them The History Boys and Starlight Express. For years the Theatre Royal has been famous for its Christmas Pantomime, one example being Mother Goose with Kathy Staff and Bernie Clifton in 1982.
The talk concluded with a listing of a galaxy of stars who had graced the stage of the theatre over the decades, among them Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Bela Lugosi, Hylda Baker, Margaret Lockwood, John Inman, Cliff Richard, Diana Dors and Dinah Sheridan.
Mike Foyle, who was in the chair, introduced the speaker and gave the vote of thanks.
