Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough

Mr. C. Watson Mill's company are here with In Time of War, a most thrilling drama, with realistic effects. Captain Russell Squires was admirably undertaken by Mr. C. Watson Mill, and Miss Lydia Audre as Diana Squires won golden opinions for her clever acting. Mr. Harry Scaddon as the spy filled his part very creditably. Good also was Miss Edith Gregory. The Stage - Thursday 01 July 1915.

‘Mr. Rupert Lister, Miss Cecile Barclay and company are here [the Royal, Middlesbrough] with The Day Before the Day. Mr. Lister’s fine soldierly bearing and finished acting make him an admirable Guy Howison, and Mr. Hugh Lyndhurst powerfully depicts Max von Ardel. Miss Cecile Barclay wins all hearts with her life-like impersonation of Victoria Buckingham’ (The Stage, 9 September 1915).

Advertised in the North Star (Darlington), 14 February 1916: ‘in which Miss Violet Carlyle and Mr. Stanley Healy will appear’. And Stephen C. Venner and Kathleen Stewart inserted a theatrical card in The Stage, 17 February 1916, referencing their participation in The Enemy in our Midst during the stock season at the Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough.

‘E. Hill Mitchelson’s Royal stock company are this week drawing crowded houses with Neither Wife nor Maid. Violet Carlyle impersonates Meg Hunter [sic - Huxter] with effect, whilst the callous Steve Warden is depicted with rare skill by Fred Maxwell. Lord Kingdom [sic - Kingdon] is cleverly depicted by Stanley W. Healey, and J. O. Cuthbertson vividly depicts Curley Saunders. Lady Kingdom [sic - Kingdon] has a painstaking exponent in Rosabella Dodd, and Tina Langlois (Eliza), and Ted Mooney (Portal) are responsible for numerous comical interludes. Stephen C. Venner does well as the Rev. Peter Gardiner [sic - Cordiner], and Little Lovett proves herself to be an exceptionally clever juvenile actress’. The Stage, 6 April 1916.

‘“The Man Who Came Back” has been selected for the last week of E. Hill Mitchelson’s present season. It is proving a genuine. Fred Marsden is seen at his best as Phil Murket, and Ned Marsden has a fine exponent in Fred Edwin. Violet Carlyle is again to be complimented on her finished work displayed in her impersonation of Nell Marsden. This talented lady takes a well-earned benefit on Friday’. The Stage, 29 June 1916.

Performers: Matthew H Glenville and Co.

Performed twice nightly (6.50 and 9) for the week with cast including G. Carlton Wallace performing as Clive Esmond.

Performed by Mr C Hill Mitcheson's Royal Stock Company.

‘The military drama, “HLL,” is presented here by Mr. H. Glaze’s stock company. The leading parts are played by Mr. Theophilus Carlton [sic - Charlton], Mr. James Hart and Miss Lydia Donovan’ (The Era, 9 May 1917). . ‘Will H. Glaze’s company are seen to great advantage in “His Last Leave.” The play is finely interpreted by Will H. Glaze, Edwin C. Davies, Theo Charlton, James Hart, Fred C. Chabot, J. P. Marsden, George Gormley, Lilian Fenn, Wwenne [sic – Gwynne] Warren, and Lydia Donovan’ (The Stage, 10 May 1917).

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

Performed for the week by Edward Vivan, Horace Buckley, Henry Earlsmere and Valerie Russell.

Twice nightly

Advertised in the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 5 October 1917: ‘Next Week: “Always Welcome”’.

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 12 November 1917, advertised the ‘Special engagement of Mr. G. Carlton Wallace’s company, in the great sensational play The Enemy in our Midst’.

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 20 November 1917, advertised at the Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough the ‘Special Engagement of Mr Will H Glaze’s Principal Co. In The Thrilling Drama, Blackmail’. Noted in The Stage, 22 November 1917: ‘Harry Tresham, Will Scotton, Charles Yorke, Eva Alliston, Nita Langford, and Renee Bevan are excellent in their respective rôles’.

Advertised in the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 14 January 1918: ‘Mr Will Glaze Presents His Powerful Company in the fine stirring drama, His Last Leave. A beautiful production and an interesting play’.

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 21 January 1918, advertised at the the Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough, ‘Next Week: For Motherland’.

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 4 February 1918, advertised ‘Mr Arthur Hinton Presents His Company in the Thrilling Drama, The Black Sheep of the Family’ twice nightly during the week at the Theatre Royal. An advertisement for the play inserted by Arthur Hinton in The Stage, 21 February 1918, noted, ‘Enormous success at Middlesbrough. Played to holding capacity twice nightly’.

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

Listing for twice-nightly performance

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 21 May 1918, advertised at the Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough, ‘The Nautical Drama of Great Interest, A Son of the Sea’. Also: ‘“A Son of the Sea,” the play which was staged last night [at the Theatre Royal], proved indeed an attraction well worthy of the huge crowds which assembled to witness it. It is a drama of the very best type, and includes many thrilling incidents. A particularly exciting incident was a lifeboat rescue. It was exceedingly well staged, as was the whole pace. The acting leaves nothing to be desired, the principal parts being sustained by Clifford Benn [sic – Rean], John Worth, Miss Dorothy Kirk, and Miss Maudie Ryder’. Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 21 May 1918.

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

‘The Girl Who Changed Her Mind, one of the latest war dramas, presented by Will H. Glaze and Wilson Benge’s company, now in its fourth week of tour, is drawing crowded houses [at the Royal, Middlesbrough]. The play is effectively written and interpreted. Mr. Benge makes a manly hero, Dennis Royston, and acquits himself with vigour. The sympathetic impersonation of Ruth Vallender by Sadie Smith is full of merit. Jerrold Ord is a clever Captain Frank Cave. Richard Webb portrays the Squire of Rathmore with fidelity. Tom J. Taylor as Tony Blizzard, a stable lad, highly amuses the audience by his unflagging humour. Amy Coralli scores heavily as the sprightly and vivacious maid Molly Migglethorpe, and Frank Radcliffe causes considerable merriment as P.C. Hogg, a rural policeman. M. Richards (van Jek), J. M. Taylor (Captain Holtz), Rene Ralph (Mme. Van Jek), and Lizzie Lennon (Susan), complete the cast. The drama is well staged’. The Stage, 4 July 1918.

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 19 July 1918, advertised at the Theatre Royal ‘Tom Major Presents his Up-To-Date Musical Comedy Revue (Full Chorus, &c,). Rosy Island’.

‘A problem play, “The Unmarried Mother,” will be presented to adults only at the Grand Theatre [sic], Middlesbrough, by Mr Oswald Gray’s [sic] Company The principal characters will be undertaken by Miss Dora Weber, Mr Frank Venn, Mr. Alfred Adams, and Miss Florrie Macinnes’ (North Star (Darlington), 17 August 1918). ‘Two crowded holiday audiences were highly delighted last night, at the Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough, with the play, “The Unmarried Mother,” which was capitally interpreted by Mr Oswald Cray’s Company. Leading parts are admirably sustained by Alfred D Adams and Dora Weber’ (North Star (Darlington), 20 August 1918).

‘Once more Mr Arthur Hinton brings his Repertoire Company to the Theatre Royal, and announces the production of some old favourites. On Tuesday and Saturday “A Man’s Best Pal” will be presented, while “The Black Sheep of the Family” should draw full houses on Wednesday and Thursday, and “The Sorrows of Satan” is assured of a hearty reception on Friday. In these plays Mr Hinton himself takes the leading roles and he will be ably supported by the members of his talented company’. Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, Tuesday 26 November 1918.

(The Stage Thursday 28 November 1918)

The Stage, 6 May 1920, noted that Arthur Hinton and company were at the Royal, Middlesbrough with The Black Sheep of the Family and Camille.

This was the first play to be performed at the newly reopened and redecorated theatre in the first week of the year. Performed by the Millane Stock company.

‘The Millane stock company present this week [at the Royal, Middlesbrough] “Neither Wife Nor Maid,” supported by a strong cast, the chief members of which are E. A. Brooke, J. Millane, E V. Borrow, W Edwards, K. Dillon, M. Holmes, M. Monte, and D. Marriott’. The Stage, 26 August 1926. Also The Era, 25 August 1926.

Performed for the week by the Maillane stock company including Joseph Millane, A. E. Brooke, D. Marriott, George Wackley and Maysie Bronte.