Royalty Theatre

The Royalty Theatre in Dean Street, London, began as Miss Kelly's Theatre in 1840. Built by Fanny Kelly, behind her property in 73 Dean Street, this venue was to be the home of her newly founded dramatic school. Established with the amateur in mind, it is unsurprising that throughout the second half of the nineteenth century, under various different managements and names, this theatre was used by amateur dramatic clubs and societies.

In 1850 the theatre was briefly renamed the New English Opera House.

In 1854/5 the theatre was known as the (Royal) Soho Theatre and was under the lease of Mr Thomas Mowbray and direction of Mr. W. Shirley. Under their management the theatre is increasing advertised to amateurs and they advertise themselves as training pupils for the stage. One newspaper cutting dated 1854 reads: 'This elegant THEATRE will contain 800 persons, and it to be LET nightly for dramatic performances, concerts, &c. Ladies and gentlemen wishing to make the stage their profession will here find every facility for acquiring the necessary information - in short, this establishment supplies a long looked for desideratum, and is the only recognised Dramatic School in the metropolis'.

In 1861 it was reconstructed and renamed The New Royalty, reopening under the management of the actress Mrs Selby.

In 1875 Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury premiered at the Royalty. Ibsen's Ghosts was first performed at this venue by invitation on 13 March 1891 by J. T. Grein's newly founded Independent Theatre, which said that its object was 'to give special performances of plays which have a literary and artistic, rather than a commercial value'. The Independent Theatre made experimental performances for the New Royalty Theatre from 1891 until 1897. Brandon Thomas's Charley's Aunt premiered at this theatre on 21 December 1892.

The theatre was regularly changing hands. Arthur Bourchier began a tenancy of the theatre in 1895. Mrs Patrick Campbell took over the house in 1900.

In 1906, the theatre was reopened after being enlarged and remodelled and was now under the lesseeship of Kate Santley.

The theatre closed down shortly before WWII.

Performances

1845, 20 September - Charles Dickens presented his amateur theatricals at Miss Kelly's Theatre with the cast including Douglas Jerrold, Mark Lemon, John Forster and John Leech. They performed Every Man in his Humour followed by A Good Night's Rest; or, Two in the Morning. Cards of invitation had to be presented at the theatre to gain entrance to the venue and evening dress was required.

1854, 25 January - The Players (established 1852) have a performance in aid of their own funds. They perform Heir at Law and Honey Moon. At the bottom of the playbill they announce the society's next performance as being on 22 February 1854. The cast includes Mr Vivian, Mr Bertram Palmer, Mr Felton, Mr Mowbray, Mr Shirley and others.

1854, 3 March - Performances take place for 'Mr Stanley's Night' and the playbills and practices are strikingly similar to those of the earlier private theatres and dramatic institutions. This could be an amateur performance and is made up of The Wife and Stage Struck.

1854, 11 March - 'A Dramatic Evening' is advertised, 'under the direction of Mr Vivian on which occasion, we are told, he will be assisted by several distinguished Amateurs'. The performances are of the two-act comedy The Follies of a Night, the comic drama Used Up and the farce Stage Struck. Attendees are asked to wear evening dress.

1854, 19 April - The St James's Dramatic Company (established 1845) host their sixth and last performance of the season, which was in aid of the funds of the society. They perform the two-act comedy My Wife's Daughter, Morton's comedy compressed into three acts Speed the Plough and the second act of Sheridan's The Critic; or, A Tragedy Rehearsed. The Honorary Secretary of the Society is listed as Mr George Terry.

1854, 2 May - A performance 'in aid of the funds being raised with a view to assist a professional lady, formerly on the stage, but without assistance from the Theatrical Funds' with a cast that seems likely to be amateur including 'a Lady'. They perform The Stranger, The Married Rake and The Rendezvous.

1854, 20 May - Printers' Dramatic Society amateur performance of Much Ado About Nothing, an address in three tableaux and Douglas Jerrold's The Rent Day. There was also a pianoforte solo, some imitations of popular actors and some dances. There is a notice to say that the events are in aid of the printers' almshouses and the Printers' Pension Society Committee.

1854, 6 June - A performance for the benefit of Mr Charles Southwell . The playbill tells us that his Iago 'has been pronounced by eminent critics as unsurpassed by any other living Actor on the English Stage'. The playbill does not contain the word 'amateur' though it has the look and feel of an amateur theatrical playbill. Charles Southwell could be the freethinker, radical and journalist of that name.

1854, 18 July - An amateur performance is advertised for the benefit of the association in aid of the wives and families, widows and orphans, of soldiers ordered on active service. They perform Hamlet followed by the two-act farce Fortune's Frolic, in which Mowbray is the only name advertised on the poster. The cast of Hamlet is Mr Charles Vincent, Mr Betterton, Mr Sterry, Mr Haywel, Mr H. Temple, Mr Somers, Mr Edgar Dillon, Mr Winchester, Mr Moreton, Mr Mowbray, Mr Deane, Mr Shirley, Miss Arnold, Miss Wade, and Miss E. Wade.

1854, 24 November - The St James's Dramatic Society have their first performance of the season. They perform the drama Lucille; or, The Story of a Heart followed by the comedy in three acts, The Serious Family. The playbill makes clear that there will be 'no money taken at the doors' and that children in arms are unable to attend. A plot and scene summary of the production are in the collection. These are likely the work of Mr Shirley, who acts as the Stage Manager for these performances.

1854, 1 December - An amateur performance in air of the patriotic fund is announced. The names of the pieces are announced, along with the character names, but the amateur actors are not named. They perform the farce Perfection; or, The Lady of Munster, The Windmill, and the screamer The Wandering Minstrel.

1854, 16 December - A benefit for the Caxton Fund for the relief of old and decayed printers, in connection with the Printer's Pension Society. They perform Mark Lemon's two-act drama Honesty the Best Policy, Lemen Rede's farce His First Champagne, and the burlesque in one act of Othello.

1855, 3 January - The Allied Amateurs gave their first dramatic performance which consisted of Planche's comedietta The Loan of a Lover, followed by Buckstone's farce The Dead Shot, followed by a farce by Messrs. Soutar junior and Claridge titled The Fast Coach. The performers are listed as Mr Frank Fairleigh, Mr Philip Ingham, Mr Astour, Mr Alfred, Miss Ingham, Miss Adeline Cottrell, Mr Adolphus Jerningham, Mr Singleton, Miss Cottrell, Mr Murray and Miss Astour. We are told on the playbill that Mr Astour is the Stage Manager and Mr. P. Ingham is the treasurer while Mr Sigleton is the Secretary, from whom tickets could be purchase at 19 Great Queen street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

1855, 5 January - The London Sheridan Amateur Dramatic Society announce their second performance, which will be Bulwer Lytton's The Lady of Lyons. This was followed by Charles Dance's comic drama Delicate Ground. The performers were messrs James, H. Villiers, J. C. Villiers, Shirley, Jackson, Edwards, Stanmore, Evans, Anderson, Williams, Wilson, Betterton and H Villiers. Women were Mrs Newberry, Miss Emily Sidney, Miss E. Wade, Miss Wheeler and Miss Henderson. The advertising poster lists Nathan as the costumier and Clarkson as the perruquier.

1855, 23 January - The grand opera Maritana was performed by members of the London Operatic Society. It is unclear whether this is an amateur or professional company. It was for the benefit of Mrs Pyne Galton who was returning to the musical profession after the death of her husband in 1852.

1855, 24 January - The St James's Dramatic Society (established 1845) perform their third event of the season, which on this occasion is in aid of the funds of the society. They perform Don Caesar de Bazan, Variety is Charming! and the farce Diamond Cut Diamond!. The performances start at 7pm and will end by 11pm. They note that children in arms will not be admitted, that W. Shirley is the Stage Manager, T. K. Gough is the Musical Director, Clarkson the Perruquier and Nathan the Costumier. The Honorary Secretary of the Society is James Willoughby and the performers are: Mr H. Frost, Mr West, Mr Charles Vincent, Mr dale, Miss Arnold, Mr Villiers, Mr Irvine, Mr Edwards, Mr Hazel, Miss Sidney, Mrs Newberry, Mr Mowbray, Miss Wade, Miss E. Wade, Miss Julia Hammerton, Mr Sterry, Mr Howe and Mr Rooke.

1855, 13 February - The Piano-Forte Makers' Dramatic Benevolent Society perform Rent Day, His First Champagne and The Lottery Ticket. There is a list of 20-30 men from whom tickets could be bought alongside their addresses.

1855, 9 March - Performances of Othello and Stage Struck - the latter including Mowbray and Shirley. These could be amateur performances.

1855, 12 March - The Theatre Francais Association Dramatique advertise a performance for the benefit of the widows and orphans of British soldiers ordered to the East. This could be amateur but it is not clear.

1855, 19 April - The St James's Dramatic Society give a performance in aid of their own funds. They perform The Creole; or Love's Fetters, Cousin Lambkin and The Boots at the Swan. Both Shirley and Mowbray appear with the company.

1855, 10 May - A 'Grand Amateur Performance' is advertised and consists of three parts: Charles the Second; or, The Merry Monarch, Delicate Ground; or, Paris in 1793 and Who's Your Friend? or, The Queensbury Fete. It is announced that several; 'distinguished gentlemen amateurs' will appear, listing Captain Horton Rhys, Captain Disney Roebuck, Captain Love Jones Parry, J. Forsyth Gregory Esq, Howard Fenwick Esq., W. G. Owen Esq. and W. Sheridan Esq., though H Sandeman Esq is also appearing. They are supported by actresses - Miss Jane Glover, Miss Julia Glover and Miss Helen Love. Captain Horton Rhys also sang between the acts.

1855, 15 October - The Piano-Forte Makers' Dramatic Benevolent Society return to perform Mark Lemon's Hearts and Trumps, the farce Irish Tutor and Charles the Second. The playbill lists a number of gentleman from whom tickets could be purchased.

1856, 14 May - A grand amateur performance under the direction of Madame Louise. The pieces advertised are Sheridan Knowles's The Hunchback and the comic drama, adopted from the French by Charles Selby, called The Husband of my Heart. The cast includes Bertram Palmer.

1856, 20 December - An amateur dramatic company is to perform Still Waters Run Deep and the farce Amateurs and Actors.

1858, 27 April - A select amateur performance in aid of the funds of Brompton Consumption Hospital. The 'Director' is Mr Charles Hillier. The production is arranged by the Pimlico Dramatic Class. Fredeick Sullivan is in the cast - brother of Arthur Sullivan, who went on to become a professional actor. They perform The Lady of Lyons, A Thumping Legacy and The Omnibus.

185(8?), 1 October - A benefit for Miss Augusta Vernon of the Theatre Royal Haymarket is held with support from members of the Haymarket Company and of the Printer's Dramatic Society. They perform As You Like It, Day After the Wedding and Loan of a Lover.

1858, 7 September - The Operative Dramatic Society of the Royal Princess's Theatre performed Charles Macklin's five-act comedy The Man of the World, followed by a sketch called Lucy Long, the farcetta But However! and Buckstone's three-act comedy Married Life.

1865, 22 December - The fourth private amateur dramatic entertainment of the Philadelphian society. A occasional prologue has been written for the occasion by Mrs Mary Cowden Clarke. They performed the one-act comedietta A Winning Hazard and Sheridan's five-act comedy The School for Scandal. The programme for the event advertises the annual private ball of the society at Willis's Rooms on 24 January 1866.