Theatre Royal Middlesbrough - when did it open?

[johngosling]

Hi,

I'm working on a great great grand uncle by the name of James Crombie Hunter, who looks to have been the proprietor of the Theatre Royal in Middlesbrough. A number of online sources put 1866 as the date the Theatre Royal started business, but I have found newspaper references to him in 1861 as the proprietor of the Theatre Royal in Middlesbrough. Does anyone have any definitive information as to when the theatre opened?

Regards

John

[tinkerbell7]

HI John

This article says 1866

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/34437

 

[johngosling]

Hi, yes, I've seen that one - several pages all seem to derive from the same core data, but I am working through a theatrical newspaper called The Era, and it looks like it opened circa 1861.

HI John

This article says 1866

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/34437

 

[Jomot]

There's a reference to him being in partnership with John Imeson at the Royal Albert Theatre: Middlesbrough

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23480/page/1829/data.pdf

[Jomot]

Some sites have the Royal Albert & the Theatre Royal as being rivals but others (most) have them as one & the same.

Yorkshire Gazette 19 May 1866
A Theatre for Middlesbro'
On Thursday afternoon the foundation stone of the Royal Albert Theatre Middlesbro' was laid at Albert Street by the mayor (George Watson Esq.) who was surrounded by a large assembly of ladies & gentlemen

So it looks like 1866 is correct

[middlesbrough]

Hi,
Extracts from the book 'The History of Middlesbrough'

On the 11th March, 1861 the Theatre Royal, Durham St was opened by J.C. Hunter with J.W. Benson, Charles Vernon and Mrs Corfield, artists who were later to appear on the London stage.

There is a little bit more info on the Theatre Royal. If there's anything you'd like me to look for, let me know.

[johngosling]

That's a great find, thankyou.

There's a reference to him being in partnership with John Imeson at the Royal Albert Theatre: Middlesbrough

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23480/page/1829/data.pdf

[johngosling]

Hi all,

Thank you everyone for the fascinating and useful replies. It's been great to confirm to my satisfaction that I have some theatre folk in my ancestry. I'm piecing together a fascinating life story for J C Hunter.

Regards

John

[johngosling]

Hi, could you give me some detail on the book, I'd like to see if I can track down a copy.

Hi,
Extracts from the book 'The History of Middlesbrough'

On the 11th March, 1861 the Theatre Royal, Durham St was opened by J.C. Hunter with J.W. Benson, Charles Vernon and Mrs Corfield, artists who were later to appear on the London stage.

There is a little bit more info on the Theatre Royal. If there's anything you'd like me to look for, let me know.