Theatres in Barnstaple, North Devon
The Theatre Royal - The Gaumont Palace Theatre - The Queen's Theatre
See also in this area - Plymouth Theatres - Cornwall Theatres - Exeter Theatres - Devonport Theatres - Bournemouth Theatres
The Theatre Royal, Boutport Street, Barnstaple
Formerly - The Theatre, Barnstaple / The Grecian Hall / The Grecian Hall & Theatre -
Later The Gaumont Palace Theatre
Above - The Theatre Royal, Barnstaple - Image shown here with a Creative Commons Attribution Licence from the Cinema Treasures Website.
Barnstaple is theatrically famous for being the birth place of the poet and dramatist John Gay who was born in the town in 1685. The Earliest Theatre in Barnstaple however, was constructed almost a hundred years later, it was situated on Honeypot Lane, today Theatre Lane, and is said to have opened around 1760 with seating for 350 people. It was known as 'The Theatre, Barnstaple'.
Right - An Advertisement for the first Theatre, Barnstaple in September 1824 - From the North Devon Journal, 24th of September 1824.
By the 1830s this early Barnstaple Theatre had become quite dilapidated however, and it was closed around 1832 and put to use as a warehouse. Part of its site would much later be used for the construction of the Regal Cinema in 1937 which fronted onto The Strand but with its side elevation running along Theatre Lane.
The early Barnstaple Theatre was replaced in 1834 by a new Theatre which was situated on nearby Boutport Street and designed by the architect J. Gould. It was also called 'The Theatre, Barnstaple' when it first opened, although it would later become known as the Theatre Royal, a name it is usually referred to in historical reports of the Theatre today.
Advertising for this Theatre during its early years is quite sporadic but its history becomes clearer by 1841 when it was reopened by a Mr. Davies, sometimes reported as Mr. Davis, for a Season of plays on the 13th of September that year, see the slightly later advertisement shown left.
Left - An Advertisement for the Theatre, Barnstaple in October 1841 - From the North Devon Journal, 30th of September 1841.
Having been running for several years the Theatre, Barnstaple, which was mostly used for amateur performances, made such a loss in 1845 that a benefit was held for the Manager Mr. Davis in December that year by the local 'gentlemen of the Town' who put on the play 'The Merchant of Venice' there and appeared in it themselves in order to help the poor Manager out.
In 1850 it was announced in the press that Charles Poole, the former lessee of the Brighton Theatre Royal, had taken over the Barnstable Theatre with an "Efficient Company of Actors" and a Mr. Salter of the Drury Lane and Lyceum Theatres as his Stage Manager. Later in the 1850s it was being used for all manner of entertainments including Lectures, Magic Shows, Panorama displays, Exhibitions, Dioramas and the like.
J. R. Newcombe took over the Theatre on October the 3rd 1856 and produced many dramas there but even as early as 1857 he was trying to sell a share in the Theatre, so despite his success elsewhere, especially at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, he seems to have been suffering some financial worries over the Barnstaple Theatre. Despite this he struggled on at the Theatre for several more years.
In September 1861 however, the Theatre was taken over for a short season by the then Lessee of the Exeter Theatre, Mr. Belton, who was in fact still running it, along with his wife, in 1865.
By 1872 the Theatre, Barnstable had been renamed the Royal Grecian Hall but was also often referred to as the Grecian Hall and Theatre, Barnstaple. And by 1877, whilst being run by John Andrews it was being referred to as both the Theatre Royal and the Grecian Hall. Andrews put on a Pantomime there for the Christmas Period of 1877 running into 1878, 'Little Bo Peep or The Demon Butcher', which was well received, although many of his earlier productions had been less than well attended according to the press of the time.
The Theatre carried on sporadically for a few years but had become quite dilapidated and was eventually taken over by the Salvation Army who used it until 1893, after which it became derelict and unused until it was altered in 1895.
Right - Advertisements for Entertainments at the Theatre Royal, Barnstaple in November and December 1895, shortly after it had been rebuilt - From the North Devon Journal, 21st of November 1895.
In 1895 the Theatre was substantially altered, in fact almost rebuilt, to the designs of the Architect F. W. Petter, with decorations by Mr. Croot and furnishings by Symons & Son. Constructed by Sanders and Ridge there was seating in the Theatre's two level auditorium for 622 when it reopened as the Theatre Royal on Wednesday the 2nd of October 1895 for two nights of Amateur Productions with funds given to the North Devon Infirmary.
After the 1895 Rebuild the Theatre was far more successful than previously and would carry on in operation showing plays, musicals, pantomimes, Amateur Operatics, and later, Films, right up until the beginning of 1930 when it was finally closed by its then Lessees Albany Ward Theatres Ltd., after a last showing of the Film 'Nerve' with Harry Peel, on the 8th of February 1930, due to its Gallery being declared unsafe and the seating accommodation without it being deemed unprofitable. Despite the closure however, the Theatre was used one last time by the Barnstaple Amateur Operatic Society who put on Gilbert & Sullivan's 'Utopia Ltd or The Flowers of Success' for a couple of weeks which was very well received and supported, albeit in just the Stalls of the Theatre which could only accommodate around 372 people.
The Theatre was subsequently demolished, along with the neighbouring Kingsley Hotel for a complete rebuild as the Gaumont Palace Theatre which opened in 1931, details below.
The Gaumont Palace Theatre, Boutport Street, Barnstaple
Later - Gaumont / Odeon / Classic / Astor / Scott Cinemas Central Cinema
Formerly - The Theatre Royal
Above - A Sketch showing the new Gaumont Palace Theatre, Barnstaple - From the North Devon Herald, 16th of July 1931.
Albany Ward Theatres Ltd., who had run the Theatre Royal up until its closure in 1930, had been taken over by the Gaumont British Theatre Chain in February the previous year, although retaining their name as a division of Gaumont. And it was Gaumont and Albany Ward who had the old Theatre demolished, along with the Kingsley Hotel next door in order to build their new Gaumont Palace Theatre on the site which opened on the 3rd of August 1931.
The Gaumont Palace was designed by the architect W. H. Watkins, assisted by Percy Bartlett and on its opening in 1931 it could seat just over 1,100 people in its two level auditorium, stalls and one circle.
Above - The Balony Lounge of the Gaumont Palace Theatre, Barnstaple in 1931 - From The Bioscope, 19th of August 1931.
The Bioscope reported on the new Theatre in their 19th of August 1931 edition saying:- 'Erected on the site of the old Theatre Royal and the Kingsley Hotel, in Boutport Street, the Gaumont Palace, Barnstaple, may be called a utility theatre, being modest both in size and decorative treatment. With a seating capacity of about 1,100, it is large enough to suit the requirements of this Western resort, and its restrained treatment makes the interior both warm and restful.
There is a restrained, though none the less forceful, note, even about the exterior, which is executed principally in multicoloured brick. The centre part of the elevation stands forward far enough to justify an extension forward of the sloping roof, which is of green tiles. Four pairs of swing doors are capped by a wide canopy, above which three windows (lighting the circle foyer) are framed with a Portland stone architrave and divided by fluted stone pillars, these latter being dominated by masque heads.
Coved Proscenium Frame
Treatment of the vestibule is on conventional modern lines, the floor being laid with white and buff terrazzo, and the walls being lined in green-painted Columbian pine. The paybox is placed centrally, with entrance to stalls alongside, the balcony approaches being at the ends of the vestibule.
Above the vestibule is the balcony foyer, richly embellished, its moulded ivory white ceiling picked out in blue, green and gold. It is lit by concealed lighting, aided by ceiling fittings.
Modernity is again the keynote of the decorative scheme in the auditorium, in which the colour has been arranged with full regard to the lighting. To concentrate attention in the right direction, the rectangular proscenium opening is framed in a series of coves, on which concealed lights play to give a striking effect. A decorative motif over the proscenium carries the monogram GP in the centre.
Above - The Auditorium of the Gaumont Palace Theatre, Barnstaple in 1931 - From The Bioscope, 19th of August 1931.
The plain walls are broken by fluted pillars, topped at cornice level with ornamental figures, while a further small ornament is applied to the upper part of the walls at the proscenium end. Rich reds and greens are the principal colours, applied to a general warm gold background.
In the centre of the ceiling, which is slightly arched, is a series of troughs, with grilles behind, this being the source of a general system of concealed lighting. Additional illumination is supplied by two large glass fittings. Underneath the balcony a long laylight is the main illuminant, while the curved front of the balcony carries a further chain of lights.
The ceiling itself is rough textured, for acoustic purposes. The walls also are covered with special fabric, for the same reason, presenting only an absorbent surface to the sound waves.
The rose-du-barry colouring of the seating and carpets, together with the green, silver and grey of the curtains, strikes a note of contrast with the main scheme, but nevertheless completes a symphony of bright and cheerful colour.
British Acoustic sound system has been installed, and is equipped with a double amplifying system, whereby either amplifier can be set in use at will by a switch. The screen is porous, and behind it are placed a number of moving coil loudspeakers.
Above - The Projection Room at the Gaumont Palace Theatre, Barnstaple in 1931 - From The Bioscope, 26th of August 1931.
Contributors to the Scheme
The Gaumont Palace was designed by W. H. Watkins, F.R.I.B.A., of Bristol, and the electrical installation and lighting schemes were the designs of E. C. C. Nicholls A.M.I.E.E., engineer to the Gaumont British P.C.T. group. McLaughlin & Harvey, Ltd., were the general contractors; Clark & Fenn Ltd., executed the fibrous plaster work; J. Jeffreys & Co., Ltd., the heating and ventilating; Garton & Thorne, the canopy, grilles and so forth; while the seats, curtains, carpets and draperies were supplied by W. W. Turner & Co., Ltd.
A. L. Pareezer, who managed the old Theatre Royal, has been retained to take charge of the new theatre.
The theatre was opened on Bank Holiday, the Deputy-Mayor of Barnstaple being introduced to the audience by James D. Saunders, Gaumont-British circuit supervisor in this area.'
The above text in quotes was first published in the Bioscope, 19th of August 1931.
The Gaumont Palace, Barnstaple had first opened on the 3rd of August 1931 but in 1937 it was more simply renamed the Gaumont Cinema, and by October 1962 it had been renamed Odeon by its then owners the Rank Organisation. On the 9th of December 1967 the Theatre was taken over by Classic Cinemas and renamed as such, and operated as a part time Cinema and part time Bingo Hall. Classic later divided the auditorium so as to run Films in the former Circle and Bingo in the former Stalls of the Theatre.
Right - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Gaumont Palace Theatre, Barnstaple in August 2024, today the Scott Cinemas Central Cinema - Click to Interact.
Taken over by an Independent operator in 1982 the Theatre was renamed the Astor Cinema with Films still showing in the former Circle, seating 360 people, and continuing with Bingo in the Former Stalls for a while.
Later in the mid 1990s the Theatre was taken over by Scott Cinemas who still run the Theatre today as the Central Cinema, a four screen multiplex with three screens in the former Stalls and a large Screen in the former Circle. There is also a Licenced Bar and Restaurant in the former Circle Foyer.
The former Gaumont Palace Theatre is today a Grade II Listed Building, you make like to visit Scott Cinemas own Website for the Theatre here.
Some of the later information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excelent Cinema Treasures Website.
If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.
The Queen's Theatre, Boutport Street, Barnstaple
Formerly - The Corn Exchange and Music Hall / The Albert Hall / The Queen's Hall
Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple in August 2024 - Click to Interact.
The Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple is situated on Boutport Street, a little further up the same street where the much earlier Theatre Royal stood from 1824, and the later Gaumont Palace Theatre stood from 1931, today known as the Scott Cinemas Central Cinema.
The Queen's Theatre opened in its present form in 1993 and stands on the site of several much earlier buildings including the 1854 Corn Exchange, which also housed the town's popular Music Hall on the first floor. An Early Advertisement for this can be seen right.
Right - An Early Advertisement for the New Music Hall, Barnstaple in December 1854, part of the Town's Corn Exchange Building - From the North Devon Journal, 7th of December 1854.
Some years later in the 1870s Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed at the Barnstaple Music Hall along with his Comic Company twice in two years, firstly in March 1871 and then in February 1872, see the later advertisement shown left.
Left - An Advertisement for Arthur Lloyd and his Comic Company at the Music Hall, Barnstaple in February 1872 - From the North Devon Herald, 15th of February 1872.
The Corn Exchange and Music hall were replaced by the Albert Hall in 1897 but this was destroyed internally by a fire during the war in 1941. A decade later in 1952 the Albert Hall was replaced by the Queen's Hall, a Theatre and Ballroom which was built to celebrate the Festival of Britain of 1951. The present Queen's Theatre is actually a reconstruction of the last of these buildings, the Queen's Hall of 1952.
The Queen's Hall, when used as a Theatre, had also been called the Queen's Theatre and was home to all manor of theatrical performances from 1952 onwards. In 1993 it was refurbished at a cost of £1m and reopened on the 24th of December 1993, with a production of the Pantomime 'Snow White'. The present Queen's Theatre has a modern auditorium with seating for 655 people on two levels, the exterior of the Theatre however, is still that of the Corn Exchange of 1854.
The Theatre has gone on to have a successful career as Barnstaple's only receiving house and a home for plays, musicals, comedy and concerts etc. In 2013 the backstage areas of the Theatre were refurbished and new electric flying equipment was installed along with an electrically operated Orchestra Pit Lift. There is also a cafe on the second floor which is open in the daytime and before the shows.
The Queen's Theatre was originally run by the North Devon Trust but was later taken over by Parkwood Theatres and today it is run by Landmark Theatres who also run the Landmark Theatre in Ilfracombe and whose own website for the Queen's Theatre can be found here.
If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.