Gaiety Theatre, Manchester
Encyclopedia
The Gaiety Theatre, Manchester was a theatre in Manchester
, England. It was opened in 1884 and demolished in 1959. It replaced a previous Gaiety Theatre on the site which had been destroyed by fire.
The new theatre was designed by Alfred Darbyshire
for United Theatres Co. Ltd. and opened in 1884. On 9 November 1908 it was bought by Annie Horniman
for £25,000 and reconstructed to plans by Frank Matcham
, reducing its capacity from 2,500 to 1,300. It was Britain's first regional repertory
theatre. In 1920 the theatre was taken over by Samuel Fitton & Associates but closed in 1922. It was in use again between 1945 and 1947 but was demolished in 1959.
During the time the theatre was being run by Annie Horniman, a wide variety of types of plays was produced. Anne Horniman also encouraged local writers, who became known as the Manchester School
of playwrights. They included Harold Brighouse
, writer of Hobson's Choice
, and Stanley Houghton
, who wrote Hindle Wakes. Actors who performed at the Gaiety early in their careers include Sybil Thorndike
and Basil Dean
.
In 2008 Annie Horniman's centenary was celebrated by a performance of Houghton's play Independent Means
, which had been recently rediscovered in the British Library
by Chris Honer, the theatre's artistic director.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England. It was opened in 1884 and demolished in 1959. It replaced a previous Gaiety Theatre on the site which had been destroyed by fire.
The new theatre was designed by Alfred Darbyshire
Alfred Darbyshire
-Education and career:Alfred Darbyshire was born in Salford to William Darbyshire, the manager of a dyeworks, and his wife Mary née Bancroft. He was a nephew of George Bradshaw, the compiler of railway guides. He went to a succession of Quaker schools and was then articled to the architects'...
for United Theatres Co. Ltd. and opened in 1884. On 9 November 1908 it was bought by Annie Horniman
Annie Horniman
Annie Elizabeth Fredericka Horniman CH was an English theatre patron and manager. She established the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and founded the first regional repertory theatre company in Britain at the Gaiety Theatre in Manchester. She encouraged the work of new writers and playwrights, including...
for £25,000 and reconstructed to plans by Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham was a famous English theatrical architect. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.-Early career:...
, reducing its capacity from 2,500 to 1,300. It was Britain's first regional repertory
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
theatre. In 1920 the theatre was taken over by Samuel Fitton & Associates but closed in 1922. It was in use again between 1945 and 1947 but was demolished in 1959.
During the time the theatre was being run by Annie Horniman, a wide variety of types of plays was produced. Anne Horniman also encouraged local writers, who became known as the Manchester School
Manchester School (writers)
The "Manchester School" is a term applied to a number of playwrights from Manchester, England, who were active in the early 20th century. The leading figures in the group were Harold Brighouse, Stanley Houghton and Allan Monkhouse. They were championed by Annie Horniman, owner of the Gaiety...
of playwrights. They included Harold Brighouse
Harold Brighouse
Harold Brighouse was an English playwright and author whose best known play is Hobson's Choice. He was a prominent member, together with Allan Monkhouse and Stanley Houghton, of a group known as the Manchester School of dramatists.-Early life:Harold Brighouse was born in Eccles, Salford, the...
, writer of Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, the title coming from the popular expression, Hobson's choice — meaning no choice at all.The first production was at the Princess Theatre in New York. It then transferred to London on June 24, 1916 at the Apollo Theatre, before moving to the Prince of...
, and Stanley Houghton
William Stanley Houghton
Stanley Houghton was an English playwright. He was a prominent member, together with Allan Monkhouse and Harold Brighouse, of a group known as the Manchester School of dramatists...
, who wrote Hindle Wakes. Actors who performed at the Gaiety early in their careers include Sybil Thorndike
Sybil Thorndike
Dame Agnes Sybil Thorndike CH DBE was a British actress.-Early life:She was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire to Arthur Thorndike and Agnes Macdonald. Her father was a Canon of Rochester Cathedral...
and Basil Dean
Basil Dean
Basil Herbert Dean CBE was an English actor, writer, film producer/director and theatrical producer/director....
.
In 2008 Annie Horniman's centenary was celebrated by a performance of Houghton's play Independent Means
Independent Means
Independent Means is a stage play written by Stanley Houghton, a leading member of the Manchester School of dramatists.The play was Houghton's first professional full length play which was written in 1908. Its first title was The Unemployed, but this was changed to avoid confusion with a one-act...
, which had been recently rediscovered in the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
by Chris Honer, the theatre's artistic director.