The Prince's Theatre was a theatre on Park Row in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

in England which was built in 1867 and was destroyed by

bombing A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechan ...

in 1940 in the

Bristol Blitz The Bristol Blitz was the heavy bombing of Bristol, England by the Nazi German ''Luftwaffe'' during the Second World War. Due to the presence of Bristol Harbour and the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the city was a target for bombing and was ea ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Owned by members of the Chute family for most of its existence, at one time the theatre was the Bristol venue for many of the country's leading touring actors and theatrical companies in addition to being one of the most renowned

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...

houses in the country before briefly becoming a

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

and latterly a cinema. The actors

Henry Irving Sir Henry Irving (6 February 1838 – 13 October 1905), christened John Henry Brodribb, sometimes known as J. H. Irving, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility ( ...

and

Ellen Terry Dame Alice Ellen Terry (27 February 184721 July 1928) was a leading English actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a family of actors, Terry began performing as a child, acting in Shakespeare plays in London, and toured ...

made their last appearance together under Irving's management at the Prince's Theatre in ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...

'' in 1902.Sandra Richards
''Rise of the English Actress''
Palgrave Macmillan (1993) - Google Books p. 127

Opening

The Prince's Theatre in Bristol was built in 1867 for James Henry Chute (1810-1878) who owned the Theatre Royal in Bristol. The theatre was constructed at a cost of about £20,000 on the site of the former home of the Baillie family known as “The Engineers House”Prince's Theatre, Bristol: The Home of Pantomime - It's Behind You website
/ref>Don Carleton
''The Prince's Theatre, Bristol''. Bristol Branch of the Historical Association, Bristol (1983) p. 2
/ref> to a design by theatre architect

Charles J. Phipps Charles John Phipps (25 March 1835 – 25 May 1897) was an English architect known for more than 50 theatres he designed in the latter half of the 19th century, including several important ones in London. He is noted for his design of the Thea ...

, opening as the New Theatre Royal, Park Row on 14 October 1867 with a production of ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

''. The theatre could seat 2,154 people with orchestra stalls, pit stalls for 800, dress circle balcony and gallery levels with 700 seats and eight private boxes. The pit was 64 feet wide, while the width of the stage including the scene docks was 107 feet. The height from the level of the stage to "the gridiron floor" was 59 feet. The behind the scenes machinery was state of the art for the time and used more than 24 miles of rope in its operation.The Prince's Theatre, Bristol - Arthur Lloyd.co.uk: The Music Hall and Theatre History Site Dedicated to Arthur Lloyd, 1839 - 1904
/ref> Chute was married to Emily Mazzarine Macready (1825-1878), the half-sister of the famous tragedian

William Macready William Charles Macready (3 March 179327 April 1873) was an English stage actor. The son of Irish actor-manager William Macready the Elder he emerged as a leading West End performer during the Regency era. Career Macready was born in London ...

, and their sons James Macready Chute (1856-1912) and George Macready Chute (1851-1888) would later to take over running the theatre along with their mother. On opening night James Henry Chute stepped out before the act-drop to tell the audience about "the house that Jack built". He announced: "I want the first words uttered in this building to be words of welcome. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am most proud and happy to say you are heartily welcome". He then explained how the theatre had been built and introduced Phipps the architect and Davis the contractor and others connected with the construction of the theatre. '' The Era'' reported of the theatre:

'The front elevation is handsome and imposing, and has been economised in a way which, without interfering with the general harmony and beauty of the design, will bring a considerable contribution to the income of the concern.... Owing to the peculiar conformation of the site, there will be no part of the building which is not above ground; whilst the entrance to the boxes throughout its entire course from street to seating will be uninterrupted by steps of any kin., The opening of the basement at all points upon the free air will be important, not merely on the score of economy of light, but because also it must contribute most materially to the all-important consideration - ventilation. Another marked feature of the plans is the great anxiety evinced to reduce the risks of fire to a minimum, and to provide ready egress from the interior in case of (whether needful or needless) alarm amongst the audience.'

Sadly, these safety measures were to prove ineffective.

Tragedy at the theatre

The theatre was built on a very steep slope and a queuing system had not yet been introduced to British theatres.Carleton, p. 4 Because of these factors disaster struck the theatre on 27 December 1869 when 18 people, mostly children, were killed in a crush as they tried to get into the theatre for a

performance of ''Robinson Crusoe'' which had opened on the previous evening on Boxing Night. '' The Era'' in its edition of 2 January 1870 recorded:

'One of the most tragic and terrible catastrophes it has ever fallen to our lot to chronicle, and by which eighteen poor creatures were, at a few moments' warning, hurried into eternity, took place on Monday night at the New Theatre in Park-row. Mr Chute having issued an attractive programme, thousands flocked, as usual, to witness the performance... nearly 2,000 persons were endeavouring to gain admission either to the pit or gallery, the crowd extending some distance into the roadway. Directly the doors were opened those behind pushed forward, heedless of the cries of those in front of them. Women and children were screaming for help, and even strong men seemed powerless to act. The tide behind was too strong to be resisted. Those behind called. "Forward!" but in vain those in front called "Back!" They might as well have appealed to the waves to stay their progress. The momentarily gathering crowd outside - ignorant, of course, of the imminent danger of those packed in the passage - pressed on with all their energy. Things at this juncture looked ugly enough, when a new alarm arose. Some one, desirous of restraining the impetuous advance of those behind, called out "Fire !" A panic was the result. Men, women, and children immediately made a frantic effort to drive back those coming in. In consequence of this movement a woman about fifty years of age fell down, and others fall upon her. The crowd began to sway backwards and forwards, and those who were down were trampled upon. The scene was now a most terrible one. Screams and moans rent the air. Cries for assistance were made in vain. People were pushed down and trampled under foot, and when once down it was almost impossible to recover their footing. As soon as the crowd had to some extent cleared away a sad spectacle met the view. Bodies were lying about the passage in various spots. A boy named Charles Talbot, living at South Green street, Hotwell-road, was the first rescued, and he was found to be very seriously injured. Police-constable 95 took him to the shop of Mr Saunders, chemist, at the top of Park-street, who considered him in a dangerous condition, and at once advised his immediate removal to the infirmary. He was taken to that institution, but died soon after his admission. In the meantime other bodies were picked up, and sixty or seventy policemen were soon in attendance, and they at once drew a cordon round the entrance to the passage, thus preventing any one from getting admission. Meanwhile a number of bodies had been removed, and it was found that fourteen were quite dead. The bodies of all these were laid out in the lower refreshment-room of the Theatre, and no one except the representatives of the Press were permitted to see them. Eight persons whose condition appeared to be very precarious were taken instantly to the infirmary, where every attention was paid them. Three, however, did not yield to the treatment, and died after they had been only a short time in the institution.'

As those at the front fell those pushing forward from behind walked over them without realising it. Chute and his wife helped to lay out the bodies of those killed in the lower refreshment rooms. With great presence of mind Chute ordered the performance to continue to avoid a panic, and none of the audience knew of the evening's tragic events until they left after the performance. The tragedy was to take its toll on Chute emotionally and financially.

Renaming

After the death of J. H. Chute in 1878 the theatre passed to his sons James Macready Chute and his brother George Macready Chute who on 4 August 1884 renamed the New Theatre Royal as the Prince's Theatre; this would be the theatre's name for the rest of its existence. The theatre closed for five weeks in June 1889 for redecoration while at the same time alterations to the upper circle were made to a design by the theatre architect

Frank Matcham Francis Matcham (22 November 1854 – 17 May 1920)Mackintosh, Iain"Matcham, Frank" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, accessed 7 July 2019 was an English architect who specialised in the design of theatres and ...

. The theatre reopened on 1 August 1889 with a production of ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...

'' with Ellen Wallis as Rosalind and Frank Kemble-Cooper as Orlando. Electric lighting was added in 1895. Matcham made additional alterations to the theatre in 1902 which included reducing the seating capacity to 1,769 (stalls 57, dress circle 103, balcony 122, fauteils 137, upper circle and amphitheatre 300, pit 518, gallery 500, private boxes 32) and placed four classical statues representing Tragedy, Comedy, Music and Dance on top of the building. The theatre re-opened with '' Merrie England'' on Coronation Day, 1902. In 1907 a new ventilation system was fitted which made the Prince's one of the grandest and most comfortable of all the provincial venues.

Pantomimes

Sam Poluski Princes Theatre Bristol 1910

Lily Morris Princes Theatre Bristol 1907

A W Clark Aladdin Princes Theatre Bristol

Ouida MacDermott Princes Theatre Bristol 1908

Daisy Wood Aladdin Princes Theatre Bristol 1909

Deborah Volar Aladdin Princes Theatre Bristol 1909

During the later

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...

the Prince's Theatre produced a highly regarded annual

starting with ''Aladdin'' in 1867 and continuing almost every Christmas season until 1940 with some of the leading performers of the period. John Henry Chute kept overall control of the pantomimes held at the Prince's, beginning the planning in August of each year, with work commencing on the sets and costumes shortly after. Casting was ongoing with Chute travelling the country to watch about 30 other pantomimes in search of artistes and ideas. He employed leading writers in the genre and had a gift for spotting talented musical comedy artistes early in their careers including

principal boy In pantomime, a principal boy role is the young male protagonist of the play, traditionally played by a young actress in boy's clothes. The earliest example is Miss Ellington who in 1852 appeared in ''The Good Woman in the Wood'' by James Planc ...

Ada Reeve Ada Reeve (born Adelaide Mary Reeves, 3 March 1874 – 5 October 1966) was an English actress of both stage and film. Reeve began to perform in pantomime and music hall as a child. She gained fame in Edwardian musical comedies in the 1890s. Re ...

, Florence Lloyd and Daisy Wood, the latter two being sisters of the famous

Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as "The Boy ...

. Among the

dames ''Dame'' is a traditionally British honorific title given to women who have been admitted to certain orders of chivalry. It is the female equivalent of ''Sir'', the title used by knights. Baronetesses in their own right also use the title ''Da ...

the comedians

Wilkie Bard Wilkie Bard (born William August Smith; 19 March 1874 – 5 May 1944) was a popular British vaudeville and music hall entertainer and recording artist at the beginning of the 20th century. He is best known for his songs "I Want to Sing in Opera" an ...

and

Horace Mills Horace Mills (1 September 1864 – 14 August 1941) was a British singer, actor and dramatist who specialised in playing pantomime dames in the early 20th-century. Born in Portsea in Portsmouth in 1864, he was the oldest of six children born to ...

were popular with audiences, many of whom travelled from further afield on special trains arranged by Chute. The panto's ballet was rehearsed for three weeks before the opening night and the rest of the cast for two weeks. If the pantomime ran for too long when it opened at Christmas it was cut.Carleton, p. 17 Pantomimes at the Prince's Theatre, Bristol - 1867 to 1939:

New Theatre Royal (1867–1884)

*1867-68 – ''Aladdin'' *1868-69 – ''Field of the Cloth Of Gold'' *1869-70 – ''Robinson Crusoe'' – scene of the disaster that saw 18 killed *1870-71 – ''The Forty Thieves'' *1871-72 – ''Dick Whittington'' *1872-73 – ''Tom Thumb'' *1873-74 – ''Valentine and Orson'' *1874-75 – ''Red Riding Hood'' *1875-76 – ''Little Cinderella'' *1876-77 – ''Babes in the Wood'' *1877-78 – ''Beauty and the Beast'' *1878-79 – ''The House that Jack Built'' *1879-80 – ''Sinbad the Sailor'' *1880-81 – ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' *1881-82 – ''Aladdin'' *1882-83 – ''Dick Whittington'' *1883-84 – ''Cinderella''

Prince's Theatre (1884–1939)

*1884-85 – ''The Forty Thieves'' *1885-86 – ''Red Riding Hood'' *1886-87 – ''Sinbad the Sailor'' *1887-88 – ''Babes in the Wood'' *1888-89 – ''Robinson Crusoe'' *1889-90 – ''Sweet Cinderella'' *1890-91 – ''Aladdin'' *1891-92 – ''Dick Whittington'' *1892-93 – ''Babes in the Wood'' *1893-94 – ''The Naughty Forty Thieves'' – Marie Montrose *1894-95 – ''Little Bo-Peep'' *1895-96 – ''Cinderella'' – Frances Earle and Katie Barry *1896-97 – ''Robinson Crusoe'' *1897-98 – ''Red Riding Hood'' *1898-99 – ''Sinbad the Sailor'' *1899-1900 – ''Aladdin'' -

*1900-01 – ''Dick Whittington'' *1901-02 – ''Babes in the Wood'' *1902-03 – ''Cinderella'' *1903-04 – ''Puss in Boots'' *1904-05 – ''The Sleeping Beauty'' *1905-06 – ''Mother Goose'' –

Lily Morris Lily Morris (born Lilles Mary Crosby; 30 September 1882 – 3 October 1952)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp. 252–253 was an English music hall performer, who specialised in singing co ...

and

*1906-07 – ''Humpty Dumpty'' –

as the Dame *1907-08 – ''Jack and Jill'' –

and 'Nipper' Lane *1908-09 – ''Aladdin'' –

Bransby Williams Bransby Williams (born Bransby William Pharez; 14 August 1870 – 3 December 1961) was a British actor, comedian and monologist. He became known as "The Irving of the music halls". Early years Born in Hackney, London, the son of William M ...

, Daisy Wood and

Ouida MacDermott Ouida MacDermott (24 May 1889 – 29 October 1980) was a British singer and actress whose career was mainly in music hall and as a principal boy in pantomime during the Edwardian era. She appeared on one of the first television broadcasts in ...

*1909-10 – ''Mother Hubbard'' –

G. H. Elliott George Henry Elliott (3 November 1882 – 19 November 1962) was a British music hall singer and dancer. Known as "The Chocolate Coloured Coon", he performed with a Blackface, painted brown face and dressed entirely in white: white top hat, white t ...

, Fred Conquest and Lulu Valli *1910-11 – ''Jack Horner'' – Ernie Mayne and Albert le Fre *1911-12 – ''Jack and the Beanstalk''– Daisy Wood and

*1912-13 – ''Dick Whittington'' – Winifred Ward and Tom Conway *1913-14 – ''Robinson Crusoe'' – Nellie Taylor and W. H. Rawlins *1914-15 – ''Humpty Dumpty'' –

Dorothy Ward Dorothy Ward (26 April 1890 – 30 March 1987) was an English actress who specialised in pantomimes, playing the principal boy roles, while her husband Shaun Glenville would play the dame roles. She had a successful 52 year career and played i ...

and Shaun Glenville *1915-16 – ''Goody Two Shoes'' –

Lupino Lane Henry William George Lupino (16 June 1892 – 10 November 1959) professionally Lupino Lane, was an English actor and theatre manager, and a member of the famous theatrical Lupino family, which eventually included his cousin, the screenwriter/di ...

and

Sybil Arundale Sybil Arundale (20 June 1879 – 5 September 1965) was an English stage and film actress born Sybil Kelly. From age 11, Arundale appeared with her sister Grace in music halls, where they were billed as "The Sisters Arundale". An early dramatic ...

*1916-17 – ''Cinderella'' – Jack Pleasants and Dolly Harmer *1917-18 – ''Old King Cole'' – George Miller and Beatrice Allen *1918-19 – ''Sinbad'' – Daisy Wood and Albert le Fre *1919-20 – ''Mother Goose'' – Fred Wright and Fred Conquest *1920-21 – ''Tom Tom the Piper's Son'' – Hal Bert and Violet Vernon *1921-22 – ''Aladdin'' –

and Elsie May *1922-23 – ''Jack and Jill'' – Dan Leno Jr. and

Barry Lupino George Barry Lupino-Hook (7 January 1884 – 26 September 1962) was an English comedian and film actor, and a notable Pantomime dame. He was the brother of the actor and comedian Stanley Lupino, the father of the actress Antoinette Lupino, and ...

*1923-24 – ''King of the Golden Mountain'' –

Marriott Edgar Marriott Edgar (5 October 1880 – 5 May 1951), born George Marriott Edgar in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, was a British poet, scriptwriter and comedian, best known for writing many of the monologues performed by Stanley Holloway, particularly the ...

and Hilda Newsome *1924-25 – ''Goldilocks and the Three Bears'' –

and Johnny Schofield Jr. *1925-26 – ''Robinson Crusoe'' – Arnold Richardson and Teddy Brogden *1926-27 – ''The Forty Thieves'' –

and

Sylvia Cecil Sylvia Cecil (c. 1898 – c. 1983) was an English singer and actress. She began her career in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with whom she performed, off and on, from 1918 until 1937. She also performed in ...

*1927-28 – ''Humpty Dumpty'' – Mona Vivian and Johnny Schofield Jr. *1928-29 – ''Hop O'My Thumb'' – Ivor Vinter, George Lacy and Kathie Lyn *1929-30 – ''The Queen of Hearts'' – Clarkson Rose, Olive Fox and Eileen Fowler *1930-31 – ''Goody Two Shoes'' –

Betty Warren Babette Hilda Hogan (31 October 1907 – 15 December 1990), known professionally as Betty Warren, was a British people, British actress active from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was best known for her comedy roles in ''Champagne Charlie (1944 film ...

and Cecile Maule-Cole *1931-32 – ''Cinderella'' – Dick Tubb, Violet Field and Percy le Fre *1932-33 – ''Robinson Crusoe'' – Mona Vivian and

*1933-34 – ''Mother Goose'' – Walter Amner, Audrey Ball and Victor Eynsford *1934-35 – ''Dick Whittington'' – Hart Athol, Mamie Holland and Wilbur Lenton *1935-36 – ''Babes in the Wood'' *1936-37 – ''Aladdin'' –

Jean Colin Jean Colin (24 March 1905 – 7 March 1989) was an England, English actress. She began her career on stage in pantomime, musical theatre and operettas. She appeared in several films beginning in the 1930s. Colin was born in Brighton, Sussex an ...

and Leslie Strange *1937-38 – ''Cinderella'' – George Baines, Peggy Bedell and Joan Cole *1938-39 – ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' –

Norman Evans Norman Evans (11 June 1901 – 25 November 1962) was an English stage and radio comedian, best remembered for his sketches and programmes entitled "Over the Garden Wall". Biography Evans was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, and started his worki ...

Jack Barty Jack Barty (born John Walter Bartholomew; 31 December 1888 – 25 November 1942) was an English variety show comedian and film actor. Born in Wandsworth, London, he made his first stage appearance as part of a double act in 1907. After serving i ...

and

*1939-40 – ''Red Riding Hood'' –

and Bunny Doyle *1940 – ''Humpty Dumpty'' - the pantomime did not go ahead

Productions

Touring actors who appeared at the Prince's included: J. L. Toole and

Lillie Langtry Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe (née Le Breton, formerly Langtry; 13 October 1853 – 12 February 1929), known as Lillie (or Lily) Langtry and nicknamed "The Jersey Lily", was a British socialite, stage actress and producer. Born on the isla ...

, Ada Ferrar, Charles Wyndham and George Alexander,

Sarah Bernhardt Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including by Alexandre Dumas fils, ...

, Julia Neilson Terry,

Pavlova Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert. Originating in either Australia or New Zealand in the early 20th century, it was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.Boylen, Jeremy (reporter) (20 August 2004)Pavlova''George Negus Tonight'', Au ...

Ellaline Terriss Mary Ellaline Terriss, Lady Hicks (born Mary Ellaline Lewin, 13 April 1871 – 16 June 1971), known professionally as Ellaline Terriss, was a popular British actress and singer, best known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Sh ...

and

Gabrielle Ray Gabrielle Ray (born Gabrielle Elizabeth Clifford Cook, 28 April 1883 – 21 May 1973) was an English stage actress, dancer and singer, best known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies. Ray was considered one of the most beautiful actress ...

, while

Clara Butt Dame Clara Ellen Butt (1 February 1872 – 23 January 1936) was an English dramatic contralto and one of the most popular singers from the 1890s through to the 1920s. She had an exceptionally fine contralto voice and an agile singing technique, ...

sang from the stage in 1897. Other actors and touring productions at the theatre included: ''

Dorothy Dorothy may refer to: *Dorothy (given name), a list of people with that name. Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Dorothy'' (TV series), 1979 American TV series * Dorothy Mills, a 2008 French movie, sometimes titled simply ''Dorot ...

'' (1890); ''

Haddon Hall Haddon Hall is an English country house on the River Wye, Derbyshire, River Wye near Bakewell, Derbyshire, a former seat of the Duke of Rutland, Dukes of Rutland. It is the home of Lord Edward Manners (brother of David Manners, 11th Duke of Rut ...

'' (1892); ''

A Woman of No Importance ''A Woman of No Importance'' by Oscar Wilde is "a new and original play of modern life", in four acts, first given on 19 April 1893 at the Haymarket Theatre, London. Like Wilde's other society plays, it satirises English upper-class society. It ...

'' (1893); ''

The Lady Slavey ''The Lady Slavey'' was an 1894 operetta in two acts with a score by John Crook (with contributions by Henry Wood and Letty Lind, among others), to a libretto by George Dance (with additional lyrics by Adrian Ross, among others) which opened at ...

'' (1893-1894);

Amy Augarde Amy Florence Augarde (7 July 1868 – 1 April 1959) was an English actress and singer in musical theatre and operetta. She performed in Gilbert and Sullivan operas and other works for Richard D'Oyly Carte in the US, England and elsewhere before ...

and

Edmund Payne Edmund James "Teddy" Payne (14 December 1863 – 15 July 1914), was an English actor, comedian and singer best known for creating comic roles in a series of extremely successful Edwardian musical comedies. He was often paired with the comic act ...

in '' Faust up to Date'' (1890); '' The Belle of New York'' (1898) and ''

The Belle of Mayfair ''The Belle of Mayfair'' is a musical comedy composed by Leslie Stuart with a book by Basil Hood, Charles Brookfield and Cosmo Hamilton and lyrics by George Arthurs, Hood and William Caine. The story is inspired by the Shakespeare play ''Ro ...

'' (1906); Adrienne Augarde and

in ''

Floradora "Floradora", also called Keyword, was a doubly enciphered diplomatic code used by the Germans during the Second World War. The Allies used tabulating equipment, created by IBM International Business Machines Corporation (using the trad ...

'' (1900); Frank Benson and his company;

Leedham Bantock Leedham Bantock (born Ernest Leedham Sutherland Bantock; 18 May 1870 – 16 October 1928) was a British singer, Edwardian musical comedy actor, early film director, dramatist and screenwriter. In 1912 he became the first actor to portray Sa ...

and Richard Temple in

George Edwardes George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond. Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...

' production of ''

San Toy ''San Toy, or The Emperor's Own'' is a "Chinese" musical comedy in two acts, first performed at Daly's Theatre, London, on 21 October 1899, and ran for 768 performances (edging out the same composer's '' The Geisha'' as the second longest run ...

'' (1900);

in '' The Bells'' (1891), ''Louis XI'' (1893), with

in ''

'' (1902), ''Faust'' (1894) and the premiere of ''Waterloo'' (1894) by

Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...

; the

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company is a professional British light opera company that, from the 1870s until 1982, staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere. The ...

and the

Carl Rosa Opera Company The Carl Rosa Opera Company was founded in 1873 by Carl Rosa, a German-born musical impresario, and his wife, British operatic soprano Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa to present opera in English in London and the British provinces. The company premiere ...

; ''

The Earl and the Girl ''The Earl and the Girl'' is a musical comedy in two acts, with a book by Seymour Hicks, lyrics by Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll. It was produced by William Greet and opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 10 December 1903. It t ...

'' (1904);

John Martin-Harvey Sir John Martin-Harvey (22 June 1863 – 14 May 1944), known before his knighthood in 1921 as John Martin Harvey, was an English stage actor-manager. Biography Early life Born in Bath Street, Wivenhoe, Essex, he was the son of John Harv ...

in ''A Cigarette Maker’s Romance'', ''The Only Way'', ''The Breed of the Treshams'', ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'' (1903-1904), and ''

Eugene Aram Eugene Aram (170416 August 1759) was an English philologist, but also infamous as the murderer celebrated by Thomas Hood in his ballad ''The Dream of Eugene Aram'', and by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1832 novel ''Eugene Aram (novel), Eugene Ara ...

'' (1905-1906);

Zena Dare Zena Dare (born Florence Hariette Zena Dones; 4 February 1887 – 11 March 1975) was an English actress and singer, who was famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and other musical theatre and comedic plays in the first half o ...

in the title role in ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical ...

'' (1906);'How Bristol pioneered pantomime... oh yes it did!'
- ''

Bristol Post The ''Bristol Post'' is a city/regional five-day-a-week (formerly appearing six days per week) newspaper covering news in the city of Bristol, including stories from the whole of Greater Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It was ...

'', 25 November 2017

Herbert Beerbohm Tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (17 December 1852 – 2 July 1917) was an English actor and Actor-manager, theatre manager. Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre in the West End theatre, West End, winning ...

in ''

Trilby A trilby is a narrow-brimmed type of hat. The trilby was once viewed as the rich man's favored hat; it is sometimes called the "brown trilby" in UK, BritainBernhard Roetzel, Roetzel, Bernhard (1999). ''Gentleman's Guide to Grooming and Style''. B ...

'' (1907); Marie Studholme in ''

Miss Hook of Holland ''Miss Hook of Holland'' is an England, English musical theatre, musical comedy (styled a "Dutch Musical Incident") in two acts, with music and lyrics by Paul Rubens (composer), Paul Rubens with a book by Austen Hurgon and Rubens. The show was p ...

'' (1909); ''

A Greek Slave ''A Greek Slave'' is a musical comedy in two acts, first performed on 8 June 1898 at Daly's Theatre in London, produced by George Edwardes and ran for 349 performances. The score was composed by Sidney Jones with additional songs by Lionel Monckto ...

'' (1910);

Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...

and

in the play ''

Broadway Jones Broadway Jones may refer to: People * Broadway Jones (baseball player) (1898–1977), American pitcher in Major League Baseball *Broadway Jones (performer) Broadway Jones, born Henry A. Jones, (April 11, 1888 – November 14, 1948) was an African A ...

'' (1913);

Yvonne Arnaud Germaine Yvonne Arnaud (20 December 1890 – 20 September 1958) was a French-born pianist, singer and actress, who was well known for her career in Britain, as well as her native land. After beginning a career as a concert pianist as a child, Ar ...

in ''Plan For A Hostess'' (1939);

Fay Compton Virginia Lilian Emmeline Compton-Mackenzie, (; 18 September 1894 – 12 December 1978), known professionally as Fay Compton, was an English actress. She appeared in several films, and made many broadcasts, but was best known for her stage per ...

Victoria Hopper Victoria Hopper (24 May 1909 – 22 January 2007) was a Canadian-born British stage and film actress and singer. Biography Victoria Evelyn Hopper was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and brought up in North East England. She studied ...

and

Noel Howlett Noel Howlett (22 December 1902 – 26 October 1984) was an English actor, principally remembered as the incompetent headmaster, Morris Cromwell, in the ITV 1970s cult television programme ''Please Sir!'' He was the subject of infatuation by De ...

in ''The Drawing Room'' (1939);

Diana Wynyard Diana Wynyard (born Dorothy Isobel Cox; 16 January 1906 – 13 May 1964) was an English stage and film actress. Life and career Born in Lewisham, South London, Wynyard began her career on the stage. After performing in Liverpool and London wi ...

Anton Walbrook Adolf Anton Wilhelm Wohlbrück (19 November 18969 August 1967) was an Austrian actor who settled in the United Kingdom under the name Anton Walbrook. A popular performer in Austria and pre-war Germany, he left Germany in 1936 out of concerns f ...

and

Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play '' French W ...

in ''

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'' (1939); John Geilgud,

Edith Evans Dame Edith Mary Evans (8 February 1888 – 14 October 1976) was an English actress. She was best known for Edith Evans – stage and film roles, her work on the West End theatre, West End stage, but also appeared in films at the beginning and t ...

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Peggy Ashcroft Dame Edith Margaret Emily "Peggy" Ashcroft (22 December 1907 – 14 June 1991) was an English actress whose career spanned more than 60 years. Born to a comfortable middle-class family, Ashcroft was determined from an early age to become ...

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and

Margaret Rutherford Dame Margaret Taylor Rutherford (11 May 1892 – 22 May 1972) was an English actress of stage, film and television. Rutherford came to national attention following World War II in the film adaptations of Noël Coward's ''Blithe Spirit (1945 f ...

in ''

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'' (1939);

Phyllis Dare Phyllis Dare (born Phyllis Constance Haddie Dones; 15 August 1890 – 27 April 1975) was an English actress and singer famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and other musical theatre in the first half of the 20th century. Bor ...

and

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's ''Full House'' (1940);

Johnston Forbes-Robertson Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson (16 January 1853 – 6 November 1937)''Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson, Beauty And Grace in Acting'', Obituaries, ''The Times'', 8 November 1937. was an English actor and theatre manager and husband of actress Gertrud ...

and company; and

Robert Donat Friedrich Robert Donat ( ; 18 March 1905 – 9 June 1958) was an English actor. Making his breakthrough film role in Alexander Korda's ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933), today he is best remembered for his roles in ''The Count of Monte C ...

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and

Erik Chitty Erik Chitty (8 July 1907 – 22 July 1977) was an English stage, film and television actor. Early life Chitty was the son of a flour miller, Frederick Walter Chitty and his wife Ethel Elsie Assistance née Franklin; they married in 1902. He at ...

in '' The Devil's Disciple'' (1940).

Later years

On 18 February 1888 during the last performance of the pantomime ''Babes In The Wood'' the show was interrupted by the behaviour of a group of students and others who threw squibs on to the stage, dried peas at the actresses and who argued loudly with the manager. In 1896 the pantomime was followed by a short

Harlequinade ''Harlequinade'' is an English comic theatrical genre, defined by the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' as "that part of a pantomime in which the harlequin and clown play the principal parts". It developed in England between the 17th and mid-19th ce ...

and then by a showing of early films. In 1912 'Jimmy' Chute died and the Prince's became a limited company with the theatre being managed by Abigail Philomena Chute (née Henessy, 1855-1931), his widow, together with her co-director, John Hart. The finances needed to mount 'in house' productions became increasingly difficult to raise and the Prince's became reliant on touring productions and its annual pantomimes in order to survive. In addition, the growth of cinema as a popular leisure activity caused serious competition to the Prince's. In February 1913 the Prince's Theatre was converted into a full-time cinema but by 1915 it had reverted to live theatre.Prince's Theatre, Park Row, Bristol, BS1 - Cinema Treasures
/ref> After Abigail Chute died in 1931 John Hart continued to run the theatre until 1936. Abigail's son, Desmond Macready Chute, had become a Roman Catholic priest by this time and was living in

Rapallo Rapallo ( , , ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, in the Italy, Italian region of Liguria. As of 2017 it had 29,778 inhabitants. It lies on the Ligurian Sea coast, on the Tigullio Gulf, between Portofino and ...

in Italy and so had no interest in taking over the management of the theatre, which passed to Tommy Hicksons. For a period from 1935 he was forced to rebrand the Prince's as a variety house and

, but the subsequent loss of income resulted in the theatre not getting its badly needed refurbishment and redecoration. Eventually the Prince's reverted to a venue for touring theatrical companies for the last few years of its existence. The Prince's Theatre, which had been a popular touring venue for many years for companies from the

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was destroyed in the

during

together with the Coliseum Theatre opposite it when they were both hit by bombs on 24 November 1940. Initially, there were plans to rebuild the theatre but the site was sold in 1954 and flats, named Irving House and Terry House after actors Sir

and Dame

, who had played at the Prince's Theatre, were built on the site instead.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prince's Theatre, Bristol Former buildings and structures in Bristol Theatres in Bristol Former theatres in England 1867 establishments in England Theatres completed in 1867 Buildings and structures demolished in 1940 Buildings and structures destroyed during World War II