Great War Theatre

Address: Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 6BR, England

Performances at this Theatre

Date Script Type
5 Apr 1915 The Man Who Stayed At Home Professional
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‘“The Man Who Stayed at Home” will be presented at the Theatre Royal [next week] by Messrs Vedrenne and Eadie’s company. Bright and amusing, and exciting, it should make an admirable holiday attraction, treating as it does in topical fashion with the spy question, at once with humour and solemnity. In a word it reflects England of to-day. It deals with one of the most momentous questions of the hour - espionage. The cast includes Messrs George Tully, Gordon Bailey, George Martin, A. R. Whatmore, Charles Grenville, George Hewetson, and the Misses Mary Merrall, Esty Marsh, Mary Relph, Florence Harwood, Lola Duncan, and Valerie Richards’. Newcastle Journal, 3 April 1915.
16 Sep 1915 Armageddon Professional
18 Sep 1916 A Kiss For Cinderella Professional
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The Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 11 September 1916, advertised Hilda Trevelyan and Percy Hutchison in A Kiss for Cinderella at the Theatre Royal in the following week. ‘Sir James Barrie, it is said, has given us nothing finer in the way of a fantasy play than “A Kiss for Cinderella,” which is due to make its debut at the Theatre Royal. In this work the creator of the immortal “Peter Pan” has blended comedy and pathos with his own peculiar genius, and for quaintness, irony, and tenderness it has not been excelled. Miss Hilda Trevelyan will appear in her original part, and will be supported by Mr Percy Hutchinson [sic], who brings to Newcastle the original production from Wyndham’s’. Newcastle Journal, 16 September 1916. The Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 19 September 1916, published a review of the production: ‘The hospital scene is Barrie’s topical contribution to the war, for we are brought hack to real life with the sufferings of the soldiers, with their uncomplaining good humour, with the somewhat strict lady doctor, and with the titled young lady who sinks her identity in the guise of a probationer’. The Newcastle Journal, 19 September 1916, also published a review of the production.
12 Mar 1917 The Bing Boys Are Here Professional
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'“The Bing Boys are Here!” facetious and clever individuals made their debut at the Theatre Royal in the presence of audience the size of which was only limited by the inelasticity of the walls of the building. Hilarity was the keynote of the entertainment. It can scarcely be claimed that “seeing the sights of London” is an original idea from the dramatist’s point of view, but then the Bing Boys see them with such originality and resource that the plot has many novelties and some surprises. It a jolly, irresponsible, and animated show ... It will be surprising if the Royal has a vacant seat during the remainder of the week’. Newcastle Journal, 13 March 1917.
11 Mar 1918 The Invisible Foe Professional
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Presented by Robert Courtneidge, and performed for the week by a cast including Julian Royce (actor) and Queenie Gwynne (actress).
21 Mar 1918 The Test Unknown
21 Mar 1918 The Test Amateur
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The Newcastle Journal, 20 March 1918, advertised at the Theatre Royal a ‘Special Matinee Performance On Thursday, 21st March, 1918, at 2p.m., in aid of The Newcastle Orthopaedic Centre, an institution for dealing with Wounded Soldiers on the most scientific and up-to-date lines, fitting them as far as possible for useful employment in the future’. The programme would include ‘A Short Two Act Comedy entitled The Test By Philip Carill’. ‘On Thursday, at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, a special matinee will be held in aid of the Newcastle Orthopaedic Centre. Mr. Alfred Butt has given permission for the members of “The Boy" to appear, and an orchestra composed of members of the Newcastle Symphony, conducted by Mr. Whittaker, will play. The programme will include a short comedy “The Test,” and a farcical comedy "The Little Fowl Play." Other items, including glees, songs, etc., will be included in the entertainment. Articles made by wounded soldiers working in the curative workshops of Newcastle Orthopaedic Workshops, will be shown at the Handicrafts Exhibition to be held in the King’s Hall, Armstrong College, Newcastle, on Thursday, 21st inst. Many of the articles are of a useful and attractive character and are for sale and the public, by supporting this movement, are enabling the orthopaedic patients to carry on this work, which is both curative and instructive’ (Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 20 March 1918). A report of the event in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 22 March 1918, mentioned the playlet ‘“The Test,” in which Miss Phyllis Le Grand, Captain W. G. D. Mirrielees, and the author (Mr. Philip Carill) appeared. A report of the event in the Newcastle Journal, 22 March 1918, named Captain Mirrielees, Miss Phyllys Le Grand and Mr. Philip Carill among those who contributed to the entertainment. ‘As a result of the matinee performance in aid of the Military Orthopaedic Centre at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, a cheque for £l90 6s 2d has been paid over by Captain Worsley, the organiser of the entertainment. In expressing the committee’s thanks for this acceptable addition to the funds, mention should be made of the kindness which prompted the artistes to give their services at the performance. The financial success was fully deserved, for the entertainment was of the best’ (Newcastle Journal, 27 March 1918; also the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 27 March 1918).
19 Aug 1918 Quits Unknown
18 Nov 1918 Peace Time Prophecies or Stories Gone Wrong Professional
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Previewed in the Newcastle Journal, 16 November 1918. ‘Exactly into which category to place “Bubbly” we are in doubt, but as “entertainment” is comprehensive enough a term to cover most things musical and dramatic, we hope not to be quarrelled with for calling it neither a play, a comedy, nor a revue. It has some of the excellencies of all. We have presented a series of “bubbles” on a variety of subjects - skits and satires and parodies. We will not attempt to judge whether the audience was more amazed than amused, but the house was practically full, and appreciation of the pieces moved in the ratio of one’s education gained in other places where this sort of entertainment is not unlooked for. The singing was fair and the dancing was good - a fair criterion that it is a capital revue’ (Newcastle Journal, 19 November 1918).
19 May 1919 Nurse Benson Professional
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‘At the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, next week, Marie Lohr’s company will appear in “Nurse Benson,” a bright comedy which has had a successful run at the Globe Theatre, London. It is a play full of pretty sentiment and pleasant humour, and while it has for its hero a wounded man, there are no excursions to battle areas and no attempt at realism. The company can be relied upon to give a capital presentation of Mr. R. C. Carton’s and Mr. Justin Huntly McCarthy’s invention’. Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 17 May 1919.
3 May 1920 Nurse Benson Professional
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‘“Nurse Benson,” which is on a return visit to Newcastle Theatre Royal, reminds us of the pace at which we live in this 20th century. A pretty little comedy by R. C. Carton and Justin Huntley McCarthy - who might have given it a much more attractive title – it is a story of a war-time incident around which the romance of a V.C. and his titled nurse is woven brought us back with a somewhat sharp jerk to remembrance of the fact that what seemed somewhat ancient history, as the four acts unfolded themselves, only in reality dates back a couple of years. We are falling so rapidly into normal ways that already the hand of time has drawn a veil over much of the suffering of 1914-1918, but it is a question whether it is not good that some such reminder as that given by last night’s play should be meted out occasionally'. Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 4 May 1920.
10 Sep 1925 The Shewing up of Blanco Posnet Professional
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‘Large audiences are giving Sir John and Lady Martin-Harvey a hearty welcome on their short run into the provinces, and Newcastle proved no exception when they opened at the Royal this week … To night (Thursday) an important event is the presentation by Sir John of “The Showing-Up of Blanco Posnet,” by Bernard Shaw, and Maeterlinck’s “The Death of Tintagiles.” In the former Lady Martin Harvey plays Fanny [sic – Feemy] Evans and Sir John Blanco. Sir John’s company includes Mr. Gordon McLeod, Mr. Fred Grove, Mr. Alfred Ibberson, Miss Marie Linden, Miss Annie Furrell, and Miss Mary Gray' (The Stage, 10 September 1925). ‘The engagement last week of Sir John Martin Harvey and Company was especially notable for the introduction on Thursday to Newcastle audiences of Maeterlinck’s short but important play, “The Death of Tintagiles,” and Shaw’s “The Showing Up of Blanco Posnet" ... [in the Shaw play] the company entered into its spirit. In the title-rôle Martin Harvey acted with freedom the part of the scamp on trial for his life’ (The Stage, 17 September 1925).
11 Mar 1927 The Shewing up of Blanco Posnet Professional
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The Newcastle Journal, 28 February 1927, advertised Martin Harvey’s at the Theatre Royal the following week; they would perform “The Showing Up of Blanco Posnet” and “Ib and Little Christina” on Friday evening.

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