Theatre Royal Gloucester Ordnance Survey map 1880s

The Theatre Royal at Gloucester, at which

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

once performed, was an important theatre in the history of the city. The theatre was built in 1791 by

John Boles Watson John Boles Watson (c. 1748 – 1813 Cheltenham) built the first permanent theatre in Cheltenham at York Passage, 1782. Boles Watson also built the Theatre Royal, Gloucester, Theatre Royal, Gloucester, in 1791 Westgate Street The Westgate area of Gloucester is centred on Westgate Street, one of the four main streets of Gloucester and one of the oldest parts of the city. The population of the Westgate ward in Gloucester was 6,687 at the time of the 2011 Census. Nota ...

. Watson died in 1813, and the theatre was sold to the businessman

John Blinkhorn John Blinkhorn (c.1808 – 15 June 1897) was a Gloucester businessman who in 1857 purchased the Theatre Royal at Gloucester, at which Charles Dickens once performed. At its centenary in 1891, Sir Henry Irving and Ellen Terry both appeared with m ...

in 1857. Charles Dickens once performed the trial scene from ''The Pickwick Papers'' to a capacity audience. At its centenary in 1891, Sir Henry Irving and Ellen Terry both appeared with members of the ''Lyceum Company''. In 1902 the theatre was sold again to Charles Poole who changed it to a variety theatre and picture house. Myriorama shows were given. The theatre closed in the early 1920s and was replaced by Woolworths in 1922. The site is currently a discount store."Amazing Theatre Royal is now a pound store" by Kevin George in '' The Citizen'', 10 December 2011, p. 16. The ''Theatre Vaults'' public house was located nearby.

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