Theatre Royal, Sheffield

‘Theatre Royal. Patrons of this house gave a good reception to “The Little Grey Home in the West,” a new domestic play, by Mrs. F. G. Kimberley, which has been on the stage only three weeks. Its scenes carry us from the English country-side to the Wild West, and there are several thrilling situations’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 24 August 1915). ‘Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Vaughan’s company provide the entertainment here with the thoroughly up-to-date play The Little Grey Home in the West. Miss Madge Douglas as Peggy and Mr. Ernest Vaughan as Dick Bryant are the capable principals in a well-balanced company’ (The Stage, 26 August 1915).

‘New plays of the melodrama type are frequently coming to the Theatre Royal. This week’s attraction is “Home Once More,” an entertaining play of present-day life. presented by Miss Emma Litchfield and Company’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 28 September 1915). When Lionel Balmont advertised Home Once More in The Stage, 7 October 1915, he noted, ‘Played to splendid business last week, T.R., Sheffield. House full Saturday night long before curtain rose; Boxes, Stalls and Circle packed.’ Also, ‘A pleasant surprise awaited Miss Emma Litchfield during the performance of Home Once More at the Royal. Sheffield, last week, in the presentation of a bouquet of roses with a jeweller’s box attached, enclosing a very pretty enamel brooch (Union Jack design)’ (The Stage, 14 October 1915).

'a story admirably adapted for stage production' (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 1 October 1915)

‘At the Sheffield Theatre Royal [next week] Mrs. Frank Bateman’s company will appear in “A Woman in Khaki” and “Sapho”’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Friday 22 October 1915; also the Sheffield Evening Telegraph of the same date). ‘“The Woman in Khaki,” presented by Mrs. Frank Bateman and Company had an encouraging reception at the hands of a large audience at the Theatre Royal last night. An alteration in the programme will take place on Thursday and Friday nights, when the same company will present “Sapho”’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 26 October 1915; and noted in the Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 26 October 1915).

Advertisement, p. 38, The Stage, 28 October 1915 New Production by Mrs. Frank Bateman's Company.

Betty Seymour played Flora Medwin ('Sheffield Daily Telegraph', 14 March 1916, p. 3)

Performers: Matthew H Glenville and Co. Reviews:"distinctly above the average play of its kind", Sheffield Daily Telegraph.

The Stage, 13 and 20 July 1916, noted that The Mormon and The Maid was On Tour from 17 July at the Royal, Sheffield, but did not mention Somewhere A Heart Is Breaking.

‘The Enemy in Our Midst is a strong war play, dealing with the heroic deeds of our soldiers and the dastardly work of naturalised German spies. The great sensation is a Zeppelin raid, with the destruction of the invading monster, and this is excellently managed’. Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 8 August 1916.

‘At the Theatre Royal Mr. Arthur Hinton and company made a tremendous hit with “The Black Sheep of the Family,” in which the black sheep (Mr. Hinton) shows up to advantage as compared with his “good” brother. There are many exciting episodes’ (Sheffield Independent, 5 September 1916). ‘The return visit [sic?] of “The Black Sheep of the Family” met with a cordial welcome on Monday’ at the Theatre Royal, Sheffield (The Era, 6 September 1916).

‘Miss Emma Litchfield and her company will return to the Theatre Royal in the naval and domestic drama, “Home Once More”‘ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 22 September 1916; similarly the Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 22 September 1916). ‘“Home Once More,” a new play of human interest, is presented by Miss Emma Litchfield at the Theatre Royal this week. The piece, which has a strong patriotic flavour, is in four acts’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 26 September 1916).

The Era, 4 and 11 October 1916, listed The Little Grey Home in the West as On The Road from 9 October at the T.R., Sheffield. Noted in The Era, 11 October 1916, as making a ‘welcome return visit’.

The Sheffield Evening Telegraph, Monday 16 October 1916, advertised Somewhere A Heart Is Breaking that night at 7pm at the Theatre Royal. ‘A hearty reception was given at the Theatre Royal to “Somewhere a Heart is Breaking,” a play written a soldier expressly for women at home. An excellent company includes Miss Winifred and Mr. Will White’. Sheffield Independent, 17 October 1916.

‘“The Slacker,” written by Miss Henrietta Schrier and Mr. Lodge Percy (authors of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary,” etc.) will be presented [next week] at the Royal by Mr. Fred J. Little’s Company’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Friday 17 November 1916). ‘“The Slacker,” a story of a modern “Enoch Arden,” a well acted and very interesting domestic play, forms the attraction at the Royal’ (Sheffield Independent, 21 November 1916).

‘A fairly good audience witnessed the production of Vernon Proctor’s drama, “The Unmarried Mother,” by Mr. Oswald Cray’s company, in the Theatre Royal’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 27 March 1917). ‘“The Unmarried Mother,” a drama on a burning question of the day, with Miss Murie [sic - Muriel] Monteath in the leading part, is staged at the Royal’ (Sheffield Independent, 27 March 1917). ‘Oswald Cray’s company occupy the boards here with an interesting production of the drama “The Unmarried Mother.” Murie [sic - Muriel] Monteath is the leading lady’. The Stage, 29 March 1917.

J.C.Carlyle's Company in Mrs F.G.Kimberley's recognised success. Brave Women Who Wait, or The Munition Girl's Love Story. Return visit to Sheffield last week proved another huge success. (The Era, 11th April 1917).

Performers: Dot Stephens Co

‘Mr. Stanley Carlton’s company presents an entirely new drama, “Was the Marriage Legal?” at the Sheffield Theatre Royal, this week. Its surprising and thrilling situations appealed strongly to last night’s crowded audience’. Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1917.

Performed by Frank Bateman and company

Performed for one week.

'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' is a highly sensational melodrama with a mildly topical flavour, played with the fervour necessary to enable such theatrical fare to make a quick appeal to a thrill-loving audience. ('Sheffield Independent', 21 August 1917, p. 3)

‘At the Theatre Royal a good reception was given to “The Voice on the ‘Phone, presented by Mr. Will Glaze’s company’. Sheffield Independent, 19 March 1918.

‘“For Sweethearts and Wives” proved a capital attraction at the Theatre Royal. It is highly dramatic, and spectacularly naval’. Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 21 May 1918.

‘At the Theatre Royal, Sheffield, popular fare is provided in the drama, “His Last Leave,” which proves popular with the audience’. Sheffield Independent, 18 June 1918.

Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'

‘Mr. Arthur Hinton and Company will appear at the Theatre Royal in five performances of “The Black Sheep of the Family,” and one (on Friday night) of “The Sorrows of Satan”‘ (Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 2 August 1918; also the Sheffield Independent and the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on the same date). 'The Theatre Royal had the usual holiday audience when the “Black Sheep of the Family” was the attraction and had a good reception’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 6 August 1918).

‘Next Week’s Amusements … “Home from the Trenches” is the title of the moral lesson play booked for the Theatre Royal’. Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 9 August 1918. ‘“Home from the Trenches” greatly interested a large audience last night at the Theatre Royal’. Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 13 August 1918.

‘“A Son of the Sea,” a stirring drama with an interesting plot, well presented by W. H. Glaze’s company, is the attraction at the Royal’. Sheffield Independent, 17 September 1918.

(Sheffield Independent Tuesday 22 October 1918)

Performers: Harry Foxwell (Company) Reviews: "an appreciative welcome was accorded", Sheffield Daily Telegraph " a capital company", Sheffield Independent

Performed for the week at 7pm.

Play performed by 'one of Mr. W.H. Glaze's companies under the direction of Mr. F.E. Chabot' ('Sheffield Independent', 3 December 1918, p. 2)

Tonight at 7pm "A Soldier's Divorce." (Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Friday 7 March 1919)

‘To the Theatre Royal [next week] Wilson Benge’s company will present “The Girl Who Changed Her Mind,” an action play with scenes in Belgium’ (Sheffield Independent, 4 April 1919). ‘“The Girl Who Changed Her Mind,” one Clifford Rean’s latest plays, was given by Mr. Wilson Benge’s No. 1 Company at the Sheffield Theatre Royal, last night, and was enjoyed by a large audience’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 8 April 1919).

‘A drama calling attention to the perils of London streets, entitled “Love and The Law” will be presented next week by the Stanley Carlton Company at the Theatre Royal. It is novel and original’ (Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 13 June 1919). ‘“Love and the Law,” by Charles Darrell, a story of the perils of London streets, was played by the Stanley Charlton [sic] Company at the Theatre Royal last night, before a large audience’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 17 June 1919). ‘In “Love and the Law” [at the Theatre Royal] the Stanley Carlton Company have ample scope. It contains thrilling passages marking the dangers of London streets and how easy it is for a person to be wrongly accused. They score a great success’ (Sheffield Independent, 17 June 1919).

‘A popular naval drama, “For Sweethearts and Wives,” attracted a large holiday crowd at the Theatre Royal’. Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 5 August 1919.

‘One of Mr. Clifford Rean’s plays, “His Last Leave,” was played by Mr. Will H. Glaze’s Company before a good audience at the Theatre Royal last night’. Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 26 August 1919.

At the Theatre Royal, Mr. Walter Melville presents "The Female Hun." (Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 11 November 1919)

Performed by Will Casey and company.

‘Wilson Benge’s two dramas, “Safe Home Again” and “The Girl Who Changed Her Mind,” will be given at the Royal during the first and second halves [of next week] respectively’. Sheffield Independent, Friday 6 August 1920.

Advertised in the Sheffield Independent, 18 October 1920, as the ‘Return Visit of the Greatest Naval Drama of the day’. It would be preceded each evening by the ‘nautical episode’, Crossing The Line, ‘introducing the Ceremonial arranged for the Prince of Wales by King Neptune aboard H.M.S. Renown’. Also, 'The naval drama, “For Sweethearts and Wives,” which is paying a return visit to the Theatre Royal, again attracted a goodly audience’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 19 October 1920).

The Sheffield Independent, Saturday 22 October 1921, and the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday 24 October 1921, advertised The Silent Watch at the Theatre Royal in the week beginning 24 October, with For Sweethearts and Wives on Friday night only.

Re-opening after extensive decorations with Walter Howard's play.