The Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4AG

Formerly - The Tyne Theatre and Opera House / Stoll Picture House / The Journal Tyne Theatre

Also see: Newcastle Theatre - A personal reminiscence by Donald Auty - Pantomimes in Newcastle 50 Years Ago by Donald Auty - Moss Empires' Theatres in the Fifties by Donald Auty

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Above - A Google StreetView Image of the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle in May 2021 - Click to Interact.

The Tyne Theatre and Opera House was first opened on Monday the 23rd of September 1867 with the Dion Boncicault drama 'Arrah-na-Pogue', followed by the ballet 'The Area Bell'.

The Theatre was designed by the Newcastle Architect William B. Parnell, and, although the Theatre has had many changes over the years, externally the frontage remains much as Parnell originally intended.

Right - The Tyne Theatre and Tilleys Pub in 2002 - Courtesy Gareth Price. Note the old Stoll Talkie advertisement on the side of Theatre.

Structurally the auditorium is still in its original form too but it has had many decorative changes over the years, notably the gallery boxes being 'blocked in', box fronts being embellished with Corinthian columns, and the Dress and Circle fronts being embellished with cartouches in 1901. The Proscenium has also been altered with the addition of a bust of Shakespeare. However, the Theatre's Trust says that the auditorium is still 'undoubtedly one of the finest of its date in Britain.'

Left - The Tyne Theatre, Newcastle in 2002.

In 1919 a projection box was fitted in to the upper circle when the Theatre became a Cinema, known as the Stoll Picture House, but this has since been altered so as to house a modern control room.

Graeme Smith writes:- 'The Tyne Theatre was created and owned by the energetic Joseph Cowen MP, radicalist and educationalist. Its operating lessees, in turn, were George Stanley, Richard William Younge, Sir Augustus Harris and Howard & Wyndham from 1895, Howard & Wyndham Ltd, and Oswald Stoll who converted it to a full-time cinema in 1919. Nowadays it is owned by Newcastle City Council in association with the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust.' - Graeme Smith, January 2018.

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed at The Tyne Theatre in 1887.

 

Above - An early Entrance Token for the Pit of the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle - Courtesy Alan Judd.

Above - The Auditorium and Stage of the Tyne Theatre and Opera House - Courtesy Lena Moss.

There was a serious fire at the Theatre in 1985 which caused significant damage. The fire broke out on Christmas day and gutted the Fly Tower but the stage house was subsequently completely rebuilt to its original specifications and all of its remarkable Victorian stage machinery was restored to its original condition. The very large stage at this Theatre is 56 feet wide by 54 foot deep, with a 23 foot proscenium opening.

Right and Below - The Tyne Theatre after becoming the Stoll Picture House in 1919 - Courtesy Gareth Price.

The Tyne Theatre has been under threat many times over the years but its Grade I Listing has thankfully protected it from the property developers so far. In 2002 the Theatre was under threat again when English Heritage gave it an 'At Risk Status.' However, the Theatre was saved again, this time by SMG who obtained a 15 year lease on the building and renamed it the Journal Tyne Theatre.

Above - A Painting by George Richmond depicting the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle of 1867. George says the painting was inspired by a photograph on the Theatre's website. The set placed on the stage is a depiction of one designed by William Beaumontin in 1849 for a production of 'Titus Andronicus'. Companies would tour around the country during the second half of the 19th century with perhaps four Shakespeare plays that would be performed during a week's engagement. Donald Wolfitt revived this practice during the Second World War. The New Tyne Theatre would be no stranger to such a booking. Click for an Index to all of George Richmond's Paintings on this site.

The Tyne Theatre and Opera House is today a Grade I Listed 'Theatre for Everyone' in the heart of Newcastle and currently strives to offer the best in comedy, music, theatre, variety and more. Since 2015, the Theatre has been operated independently as a not-for-profit. Having first opened in 1867, this Grade I listed building still has key elements of national importance, including the lavish auditorium and wooden stage machinery.

You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here.