Report - Theatre Royal Hyde Manchester, 2018

[xox]

The Theatre Royal is a Grade II listed Edwardian theatre situated on Corporation Street, Planning permission was granted by the local council to build a licensed theatre to replace the Theatre Royal of nearby Frank Street in 1901. The theatre was designed by Campbell and Horsley of Manchester and built by S. Robinson and Sons of Hyde. The completed theatre opened on 3 November 1902 with a Victorian French melodrama, Little Jim, with Shakespeare and other classic plays to follow. In 1914 a movable screen was added onto the stage to enable the theatre to operate as a part-time cine
In the early 1970s, the popularity of live performances was on the decline and the decision was made to stop them altogether at the theatre. The main auditorium becomes a full-time cinema and a second cinema opened in 1972 taking up the majority of the original stage area. The last live performance held was a production of Annie Get Your Gun
In later years, the main auditorium was referred to as 'Royal 1' and the second cinema was referred to as 'Royal 2'. The theatre was also referred to as the 'Royal Cinema' although the 'Theatre Royal' signs remained on the building.
In the early 1990s, the London-based owners discovered problems with fraud at the theatre and decided to close it down in August 1993 as they considered it a liability. The theatre was full for the last few days of business, with people still offering support to Hyde's last local cinema. The final film to be shown was Walt Disney's classic, The Jungle Book

 

[Luke vaughan]

Love the architecture and the machinery

 

[Bugsuperstar]

Great report man. I’m almost sure myself and @NickUk had a look at this place earlier on in the year. The front looks familiar.

 

[UrbandonedTeam]

Sadly a synagogue now, at least it was put to good use.

 

[projectionman]

my mate Arthur was projectionist here for 39 years and caretaker till he died 3 years ago I have spent many a happy hour helping out in there the projector in the picture is royal 1 royal 2 projection room is in one of the dressing rooms and projected across the stage great pictures

 

[HughieD]

That place is dripping in history - great place and report mate...

 

[albino-jay]

Sadly a synagogue now, at least it was put to good use.

It was being used as a mosque earlier this year.

 

[UrbandonedTeam]

It was being used as a mosque earlier this year.

That's the one. It was your pics I was referring to haha

 

[Eliot]

So this place has been an Islamic centre for around two years I think? Recently saw they had applied for planning permission which was denied, so I thought it was worth a shot asking for permission to look around. I know they only seem to use the lower area of the theater, with all the original decor covered with gray tarpaulin which is a shame, while all the other areas remain unused. Anyway, long story short lol they really were not open to letting anyone see the remaining theatre, I tried my hardest and even offered to donate to the school as they are a registered charity but nope :-(

 

[screenone]

love the projection equipment, that's one hell of a rake on it, brings back happy memories as the equipment shown was the machines i worked on for 20 yrs in Banbury along with many other types of projectors.