Theatre Royal, Bath

'The play will be staged with all the original scenery and effects as used in the recent production at the Garrick Theatre, London. Miss Marga la Rubia is the product of the famous Grand Guignol Theatre in Paris, and has a remarkable histrionic record' (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 20 March 1915). The play was preceded by a performance of the comedy 'French Leave', a Grand Guignol play.

The Stage, 21 October 1915, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Taylor Platt) as On Tour from 25 October at the Royal, Bath.

Performed by Sarah Bernhardt.

‘My Bath correspondent informs me that the first provincial performance of “Kultur at Home” was received with enthusiasm by a fine house on Monday. Miss Beatrice Smith and Charles B. Vaughan scored big successes in leading parts’. The Era, 30 August 1916.

The Era, 11 and 18 October 1916, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Blue) as On The Road from 16 October at the T.R., Bath. ‘At the Theatre Royal next week Mr. E. Taylor Platt’s company will present “The Man Who Stayed at Home” ... This play has now been performed over 1,500 times, and has visited all the important towns in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. It is a play which deals with the events of the moment, and has several episodes of great dramatic power and is full of humour' (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 14 October 1916).

‘Rarely has a theatrical engagement caused such excitement in the city as is being shown over the advent of “The Bing Boys” to Bath next week. Perhaps this is hardly surprising, inasmuch as not only is it the present rage of London, but is also drawing phenomenal houses at every theatre at which it has appeared in the provinces. At many theatres visited by this company it has been impossible after the second night to secure any more seats for the rest of the week, a wonderful state affairs which probably has had no equal since the early days of the “Merry Widow.” What it is in the “Bing Boys” that causes such enormous enthusiasm all over the country it is difficult to define. Perhaps it is its entire atmosphere of merry light-heartedness and spontaneous gaiety - of singularly attractive music and of inexhaustible humour that makes it so genuine a relaxation in dreary times ... The advance bookings at the Theatre Royal rival those of the D’Oyly Carte visits, and it is expected that “The Bing Boys” will create a new record for the theatre’. Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 25 November 1916.

The Era, 4 April 1917, listed The Enemy in our Midst (Carlton Wallace’s) as On The Road from 9 April at the T.R., Bath. Advertised in the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 14 April 1917.

The Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 14 December 1918, carried a full page advertisement for, at the Theatre Royal, Bath, for six nights from 16 December (with matinées on Wednesday and Saturday), ‘Messrs. Jay & Gerard Present (by arrangement with Mat. Jerome [sic - Max Jerome?]) The Outstanding Success of the Season, “The K.C.” A New Play in Three Acts, by Dion Titheradge’. The following review was included in an advertisement for The K.C. in The Era, 26 February 1919: ‘There are many wise sayings and much that is pleasing to be heard and seen during the unfolding of this entertaining play … Mr. Gerard’s exposition is most effective, and the house thoroughly appreciated his clever acting’ (Bath Chronicle).

‘An ideal play, “Nurse Benson,” will be presented at the Theatre Royal next week. It is an interesting love story, rich in humour, and bright and engaging. It is all pleasantry and delightful sentiment expressed in splendid dialogue which charms one and all. Though there are tense and even sad moments, laughter reigns supreme, and this simple, exceedingly human and charming comedy will always remain a happy memory to those who witnessed it. A very fine company enacts “Nurse Benson” to perfection'. Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 3 May 1919.

‘Patrons of the Theatre Royal will be presented with an attractive naval programme for Whit-week, when the popular naval drama, “For Sweethearts and Wives,” written by Arthur Rosebery, will be presented by the original London company, now in their third year of continuous tour. It is arranged in three acts. In the first we are introduced to the builders of our battleships, and in the third we see how our gallant sailors defended our shores in the late war. A rich vein of comedy runs right through the play, and here and there a musical number, for nobody loves a song better than Jack. The company will open with a matinee performance of “Sweethearts and Wives” on Monday. On Thursday evening the company will present Arthur Rosebery’s latest success, the romantic naval play of intense womanly interest “The Silent Watch” … Among the younger members of the company are winners of the D.S.C., M.C., M.M., and Croix de Guerre. These plays, as well as affording good entertainment, serve to impress upon the people ashore their eternal indebtedness to our sailors who not only save our homes from invasion but keep them supplied with food’ (Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer, 21 May 1920). ‘It is appropriate that Mr. Carlton should have selected for his Empire Day and Whit-week programme at the Theatre Royal the most popular naval drama of the day, “For Sweethearts and Wives,” written by Arthur Rosebery, whose experiences in the fleet date back to the days of Alexandria. “For Sweethearts and Wives” is arranged in three acts. In the first we are introduced to the builders of ships. In the second we are shown the keen rivalry of nations for a supreme motive power. In the third we see how our gallant seamen fight for England, home and beauty. The story abounds with domestic comedy, and here and there a catchy musical number. This drama will be presented by the original London company, who have played it continuously for the past three years in all the principal suburban and provincial theatres from Plymouth to Glasgow and Scarborough to Swansea ... On Thursday the new romantic naval play, “The Silent Watch,” will be presented' (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 22 May 1920).

The Stage, 4 and 11 September 1919, listed Bubbly as On Tour from 8 September at the R., Bath. Previewed in the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 6 September 1919.

Performed for the week with two matinees.

Presented by Robert Brasher. Performed for the week by cast including Robert Brasher and Olivia Glynn.

Today Walter Melville's Co. an entirely New Play, "The Female Hun." Direct from the Lyceum Theatre, London. Monday December 15, 6 nights, two matinees Wednesday December 17, and Saturday December 20 at 2pm. (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday 20 December 1919.)

‘The attraction at the Bath Theatre Royal next week will be the return visit of the Taylor Platt Company, in the exceptionally clever light comedy “Nurse Benson” - Miss Marie Lohr’s great success at the Globe Theatre. This bright comedy by G. [sic] R. C. Carton and Justin Huntley McCarthy, was produced at the Globe Theatre on June 2lst last year, and was played to packed houses for over 300 performances. It is a play for the times and there are no war scenes, although its hero is a wounded officer. It is bright and clean, and increases in comedy and laughter with every act until the last is simply a scream of delight. The whole motive of the play hinges on the impersonation of the staid and matronly nurse by Lady Gillian Dunsmore (Miss Doris Kendal) [sic - Maud Linden? - Doris Kendal had played Lady Gillian when the company visited Bath in May 1919], a wayward but delightful madcap. The complications and misunderstandings which arise out of Lady Gillian’s escapades are ludicrous in the extreme, and keep the audience rocking with merriment from the rise of the curtain until its fall. A strong cast includes: Miss Maud Linden, Miss Mary Griffith, Miss Lilian Stanley, Miss Mary Polson, Miss Norah J. Hood, Mr. P. Fuller, Mr. Eric Fane, Mr. John Raymond, Mr. James Hornby and Mr. George Polson’. Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 5 June 1920.

Performed for six nights.

Performed by Louis Victor by arrangement with Thomas C. Dagnall for the week. Cast including: Louis Victor, Fred Emery, Joseph R. Tate, H. Ryeland-Leigh, Roy Lorraine, Fred Elvin, Muriel Kelly, William H. Rowe, Nancy Warner

Special matinee. Also listed as being performed on Friday 2 June (Western Morning News, 24 May 1922)

Performed for the week by the Denville Repertory company with matinees Wednesday and Saturday.

Performed 17-20 February and on 22 February by Henry Baynton (actor), Olga Anderson (actress), Gertrude Gilbert (actress), alongside 'Waterloo' by Arthur Conan Doyle. "'Can the dead speak to the living?' is a question puzzling many thousands of people, and dealing with it the author has produced a thrilling and intensely human play, which is certain to arouse great interest." (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 15 February 1930)