Photographs of the Theatre Royal, early 20th Century
By John Layton
Here are two photographs of the 'Theatre Royal' in the early 20th Century. It stood on the corner of what is now the Market Gates Precinct, opposite the British Home Stores.
What you can see here is actually the rear of the building, with shops facing onto Regent Road. The front was on Theatre Plain.
It was first opened in 1898, and improved in 1920.
It closed in 1928 and was demolished to make way for the Regal Cinema, the building of which commenced in 1929.
If you compare the artist's drawing of the proposed 'new' Theatre Royal with the photograph of the Regal, you can see the similarities.
Photograph of Theatre Royal, Gt Yarmouth
Gt Yarmouth Museums
Proposed new Theatre Royal drawing, 1929
Gt Yarmouth Museums
Theatre Royal, Regent Road
Supplied by Colin Cockle, courtesy of the Keith Hastings collection.
The Theatre Royal, Regent Road
Supplied by Colin Cockle, courtesy of the Keith Hastings collection.
Side door, Theatre Royal
Supplied by Colin Cockle, courtesy of the Keith Hastings collection.
Theatre Royal
Supplied by Colin Cockle, courtesy of the Keith Hastings collection.
Theatre Royal
Norfolk Museum Service-Percy Trett archive