Building record 1160/91/1 - Theatre Royal

Built in 1884, Northampton's Theatre Royal is one of the smallest of C. J. Phipps's theatres. Its intimate auditorium comprises two horseshoe-shaped balconies, decorated on their fronts with rich and delicate plasterwork. On each side, at first floor balcony level, are single boxes between pairs of Corinthian columns. The entablature above the columns supports a deep elliptical arch in front of the enriched frame of the narow but high proscenium. Above the gallery slips are deep panelled coves, a theme which can be seen in many of Phipps's theatres including Wolverhampton, Eastbourne and the Glasgow Theatre Royal. The plain surface surrounding the Roccoco plasterwork in the centre of the ceiling was repainted in the form of stylised clouds in 1960 by Osborne Robinson who added other murals elsewhere at the same time. The theatre pocesses a rare painted act-drop of circa 1897 by Ernest Howard with an oval Venetian scene surrounded by elaborate draperies. An unusual feature of the Royal is that, because of the constricted site, the scenery store,etc., had to be located on the other side of a narrow street to the rear, linked to the stage, which is below street level, by an underground passage. The theatre has been used as a repertory playhouse since 1927 with Errol Flynn being a member of the Northampton Repertory Players in the early 1930s.

{1} 1884 by C J Phipps. Known until 1927 as the Opera House. Stucco front. Listed mainly for interior which has original decoration to the auditoriom. Applied ornament around proscenium arch. Tall fluted columns to boxes. Scroll acanthus leaf motif on front panel of dress circle parapet. Raised decoration on bombe upper circle parapet. Large shallow decorated ceiling dome with pierced centre. VCH, III, p 40.

{3}Built 1884 by C.J.Phipps; until 1927 known as Opera House; Stucco front; listed mainly for interior.

{5}Post medieval theatre in Guildhall Road.

{19} Photo dated 1993.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/100 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H14 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.78 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN3381.

<4> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.40 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<5> Starmer G.H., 1982, National Register of Industrial Monuments, (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN563.

<6> Foulkes R., 2005, Thoomas Osborne Robinson OBE, A Centenary Tribute, p.83-95 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109352.

<7> Grundy, I., Photographic Survey of the Royal Theatre and Opera House, Northampton (Compact Disk). SNN108671.

<8> 2004, The Royal Theatre, Northampton (Compact Disk). SNN108673.

<9> 2004, The Royal Theatre, Northampton (Compact Disk). SNN108670.

<10> Royal Theatre and Opera House, Northampton: Photographs Taken by Northampton Theatres (Compact Disk). SNN108672.

<11> Historic Images of the Royal Theatre and Opera House, Northampton, and Other Relevant Supporting Images (Compact Disk). SNN108674.

<12> 2005, 10531 Royal and Derngate, MET Survey Drawings and Photos, Supplied by Arts Team (Compact Disk). SNN108675.

<13> Uncertain, 2005, Royal Theatre & Opera House, Northampton: A record of the building, May 2005 (Part 1) (Report). SNN110293.

<14> Uncertain, 2003, The Royal Theatre & Opera House: A Conservation Plan (Report). SNN110292.

<15> Uncertain, 2004, The Royal Theatre & Opera House, Northampton: Auditorium Paint Analysis Report (Report). SNN110294.

<16> Earl, J and Sell, M, 2000, The Theatres Trust Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950: A Gazetteer, p. 170-71 (Gazetteer). SNN113522.

<17> Royal & Dernagte, Northampton, Northampton Theatres, Accessed 27/05/2022 (Website). SNN113523.

<18> Historic England, Undated, THE ROYAL THEATRE, GUILDHALL ROAD, NORTHAMPTON, BF107138 (Archive). SNN113524.

<19> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

<20> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.444 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

May 13 2025 3:13PM