Theatre Royal, Lincoln

The Lincolnshire Echo advertised ‘Miss Hilda Beverley and Co. in the Romantic Drama, When There Was War’ at the Theatre Royal on Thursday-Saturday, 3-5 December. ‘This evening [at the Theatre Royal] Miss Hilda Beverley commences another of her welcome visits to Lincoln, this time performing the new drama, founded on incidents in the present European conflict and entitled “When There Was War.” The story opens in Belgium on the eve of the war, and the German Uhlans break in upon the peaceful scene. Changing the locale to England, the audience have a glimpse of Germany’s scheme of espionage, and there is shown a series bold efforts of the spies to capture the secrets of a military station on our coast. Transferring the scene to the banks of the Marne, there is a startling final denouement. Miss Hilda Beverley appears as a German spy, and is supported by a strong company. “When There Was War” is played at seven and nine o’clock tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday’ (Lincolnshire Echo, Thursday, 3 December 1914). ‘A rousing reception was given to Miss Hilda Beverley and her company at the Theatre Royal. Lincoln, last evening, when they performed, for the first time locally, the new military drama, “When There Was War.” The play deals with the present struggle in Belgium and Northern France. The story opens in Belgium, is brought to England, where the working of the German spy system is vividly shown and takes us back to the Continent and to the battle of the Marne. The final triumph of British arms and the crushing of the wicked people of the play brings the drama to a vigorous close. Miss Hilda Beverley plays the role of a German spy with great effect, and the company work hard for the general success that is attained. The play will be repeated to-night and tomorrow at seven and nine o’clock’. Lincolnshire Echo, Friday, 4 December 1914.

The Stage, 15 April 1915, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Taylor Platt) as On Tour from 12 April for three nights at the Royal, Lincoln.

The Stage, 28 October 1915, listed Searchlights as On Tour from 25 October at the Pier, Eastbourne (3) and the Royal, Lincoln (3).

'The story is out of the beaten track and is cleverly told.' Twice nightly. ('Lincolnshire Echo', 4 January 1916, p. 4)

Twice nightly for 3 nights

Twice nightly

The play was performed twice nightly this week.

Twice nightly for 6 nights. The great domestic drama. Brave Women Who Wait, or The Munition Girl's Love Story.

Performed twice nightly.

‘Mr. H. B. Irving’s great success, “Searchlights,” written Horace Annesley Vachell, is revisiting the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, for the first three evenings of this week, played on the twice nightly system, and with a matinee at 2.30 to-morrow. Its presentation last evening was on a very high scale indeed, and the general verdict seemed to be that here was an excellent play well acted, as it certainly was well mounted. Mr. Robert Brasher has brought together a company of experienced players, who offer “Searchlights” almost better, if possible, than on the previous visit, and the stillness of the house was remarkable in the final incidents, wherein for some moments not a word is spoken, and the onlookers are still in doubt as to which way Robert Blain, having made the most tragic domestic discovery a man may make, will decide. In this part Mr. Arthur Bawtree showed great powers, supported admirably by Miss Edith Hunter as the much tried wife. The figure of Schmaltz was cleverly delineated by Mr. Leo Caselli, and the young lovers were capably played by Mr. Robert Brasher and Miss Nancy Pethybridge. “Searchlights” is a strong production, which should crowd the theatre’. Lincolnshire Echo, 2 October 1917.

Twice nightly.

The play was performed all week twice nightly with a matinee on Wednesday.

‘“The Man Who Stayed at Home,” the first and still the best of the spy plays bearing on the present war, drew three full houses yesterday to the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, where it is to be staged twice nightly (at 7 and 9) during the week, with a matinee to-morrow at 2.30. Mr. E. Taylor Platt sends an excellent production, and if it was obvious last evening that numbers of those present had seen the play before and had established it as a favourite that did not prevent their relishing to the full the situations, thrilling and amusing in which it abounds. “The Man Who Stayed at Home” is really a wonderful blend of intensely dramatic and actually comic, and it would be difficult to name another war play in which the ingredients mix to such effect. In the present company Mr. Leslie Neilson Clare is seen as Christopher Brent, whose apparent foppishness covers the shrewd, keen watchfulness of a master mind. With Miss Hilda Glynn as an ideal Mrs. Leigh, Mr. Clare scores full success, and mention should he made of Mr. J. Edward Pearce in the role of the irascible Preston, a part that he hits off to the most minute detail. The other characters are quite well handled, and the play is mounted with the greatest care to the realisation of the effects required. “The Man Who at Home” is bound to do a big week’s business on its return visit to Lincoln’. Lincolnshire Echo, 2 April 1918.

Performed twice nightly with matinee Wednesday by the Taylor Platt company.

The Lincolnshire Echo, 21 July 1919, advertised the commencement on Monday 21 July of Ernest E. Norris’s season of two weeks at the Theatre Royal, Lincoln. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday he would present The Live Wire, ‘ the successful spy play from the St. Martin’s Theatre, London’. Also: ‘“The Live Wire,” with which Mr. Norris began, is entirely new to Lincoln. Written by Sidney Blow and Douglas Hoare, each a past master of stagecraft, the story shows a leakage of information to the enemy during war time, and while it is obvious there is a clever spy in close touch with the newspaper, on the staff of which most of the members are found, the puzzle is to know which is the guilty party. As a matter of fact, not until a couple of minutes before the fall of the curtain is the mystery cleared up, the audience meanwhile being set a rare task in guessing. Mr. Norris, Mr. Eric Page, Mr. F. P. Branigan, Miss L. Ellwood, and Miss M. Richardson smartly fill the leading parts' (Lincolnshire Echo, 22 July 1919).

Performed by Thomas C. Dagnall's company.

‘Another of the Taylor Platt Companies is located at the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, this week, and those who greatly enjoyed “Billeted” a fortnight ago may be informed that this is a performance quite up that high standard. “Nurse Benson” is, however, an altogether different story, and concerns, rather than the real Nurse Benson - not a very adorable person - the Lady Gillian Dunsmore, who poses as that official. The consequence is that whereas Captain Tibbenham, V.C., is nursed to convalescence by, as he supposed, the real Benson, he finds that the lady who has captured his affections - for this is a love story pure and simple - is a different personage entirely. It is all a very pleasant piece of comedy, and with such authors as R. L. Carton [sic – R. C. Carton] and Justin Huntly McCarthy in collaboration it may be taken for granted that the dialogue sparkles'. Lincolnshire Echo, 2 September 1919.