Theatre Royal, Exeter facts for kids
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The Theatre Royal, Exeter was the name of several different theatres in the city of Exeter, Devon, England. These theatres were popular places for entertainment for many years.
Early Theatres and Fires
The name "Theatre Royal" was first used in Exeter around the 1830s. It was given to a theatre that used to be called the Bedford Circus Theatre. This building was built in 1821. It replaced an even older theatre from 1787, which had burned down the year before.
Sadly, this theatre building was completely destroyed by fire in 1885. Even though it was rebuilt for other uses, the name "Theatre Royal" moved to a brand new building. This new theatre was built on the corner of Longbrook Street and New North Road. The Exeter Theatre Company built it, and it was designed by C. J. Phipps. It opened its doors in 1886.
The Great Fire of 1887
The Theatre Royal is most remembered for a terrible event that happened there. On September 5, 1887, a fire broke out during a play called Romany Rye. This fire became the worst theatre fire in British history.
The fire started backstage when gas lighting accidentally set some fabric on fire. There were not enough exits from the gallery (the highest seating area) for everyone to get out quickly. Because of this, 186 people sadly lost their lives in the panic.
After the fire, people across the country raised money to help the victims' families. They collected over £20,000. This sad event also led to important changes. It helped bring in new safety rules for public buildings to prevent similar tragedies. There is a special memorial to those who died in the fire. It is located in Higher Cemetery in Heavitree and was made by local sculptor Harry Hems.
The Last Theatre Building
The Theatre Royal was rebuilt again after the fire. It opened in 1889 with a performance of The Yeomen of the Guard by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. The new building was much safer. It had electric lights and a special safety curtain to help stop fires from spreading.
Over the years, this theatre showed many different types of performances. These included exciting melodramas, fun musical theatre shows, lively music hall acts, and beautiful ballet. Every Christmas, the theatre put on a pantomime, which is a popular family show. For a short time in the 1950s, it even showed CinemaScope films, which were movies with a very wide screen.
The Theatre Royal finally closed in 1962 and was torn down. An office building was built in its place. People tried to save the theatre, but they were not successful. However, their efforts did lead to the creation of a new theatre in Exeter, the Northcott Theatre.
