"His Majesty's Theatre" (Opera House), Quay Street, Manchester

THE NEW MANCHESTER THEATRE, QUAY STREET - The capital of the New Manchester Theatre Limited amounts to £40,000, divided into 25,000 eight per cent participating preference shares of £1 each, and 15,000 ordinary £1 shares, the whole of which are offered for subscription. The site of the theatre is in Quay-street, Deansgate, which is claimed to be in the theatre zone of the city. The owner of the site has contracted to grant a 999 years lease subject to annual chief and ground rents amounting to ,876, or purchase at the sum of £14,000 subject to an annual chief rent of £76. It is estimated that the theatre will hold sufficient people to pay in admission money over £300 at prices ranging from six-pence to five shillings. These estimated profit available for reserve and dividend is put at £9,040. The prospectus points out that "the theatre will be constructed from plans and designs of and under the supervision of the noted architects, Messrs Farquharson, Richardson and Gill, and will be the largest in Manchester, comparing favourably with the most up-to-date London theatres. The exterior will be handsome and attractive, and no effort will be spared to make the interior comfortable and luxurious. The latest improvements and mechanical and other effects will be introduced so that every kind of play can be produced in a most efficient manner." The theatre will be run on a high-class basis, and be visited by the prominent London star actors and actresses, and the latest London successes are promised. The prices of admission will be less than at the other first-class theatres. The company has secured the services of Mr Arthur Hardy as general manager, and with the assistance of Mr Lewis Waller, the directors have every confidence that the theatre will become the centre for the presentation of opera, Shakespearean and other successful plays. The estimated cost of building and equipment will not exceed ,26,000. It is proposed to allocate certain days each year when shareholders will be accorded the privilege of booking seats in any part of the house at reduced prices. [Manchester City News 30 September 1911]

HIS MAJESTY’S, THE NEW MANCHESTER THEATRE - The corner stone of a new theatre, to be called “His Majesty’s” was laid on Saturday afternoon by Lord Teynham, chairman of the directors, and Bishop Welldon, the Dean of Manchester. The new theatre, it is said, will have seating room for four thousand persons – five hundred more than of any other theatre in the neighbourhood. It is intended, following the example of the Gaiety, to allow the booking of seats in all parts of the house except the gallery. …. The contractors, Messrs Ernest Hawkins and Company of Westminster, have promised to have the theatre ready for opening on 31 August next, when Mr Lewis Waller proposes appearing with his company in “Henry V.” Messrs Farquharson, Richardson and Gill are the architects of the building. [Manchester Guardian 18 March 1912, page 14]

The New Theatre in Quay Street Manchester is to be opened today. It stands on land, once occupied by slum property, forming an island site, and thus giving the opportunity for making numerous exits, which have been arranged in collaboration with Mr Henry Price, the City Architect. In designing the front, the architects, Messrs Richardson and Gill of London, associated with Mr Farquharson, have followed the pyramidal type evolved by Cockles (sic) in building the Banks of England in the provincial cities, of which the bank in King Street is an example. The style is neo-Greek. The progress of the building was considerably hampered by the coal strike, which delayed the delivery of materials. The portion above the level of the pavement has been completed in eleven weeks. The main architectural features of the interior are the proscenium and the boxes, of which there are only two. The house is of two tiers, spanned by an arched ceiling at a height of 70 feet above the stalls. This form has been adopted to allow the gallery to be brought well into the interior. The colour scheme of the decoration is scarlet, bronze and stone colour. The stage is said to be second only to that at Covent Garden Theatre in scientific construction and mechanical appliances. [Manchester Guardian 26 December 1912 page 3]

Foundation    16 March 1912
Opened         26 December 1912

Reference        British Architect 5 May 1911 page 314 – proposed theatre, Quay Street
Reference        Manchester Guardian 28 September 1911 page 3 - prospectus
Reference        Manchester City News 30 September 1911
Reference        Manchester City News 23 October 1911 page 10
Reference        Manchester City News 16 December 1911 page 9 col 2
Reference        British Architect 5 May 1911 page 314
Reference        Manchester City News 16 March 1912 Page 5 Column 4
Reference        Manchester Guardian 18 March 1912, page 14
Reference        Manchester Guardian 26 December 1912 page 3 with illustration – opening