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King Street Theatre 1751 - 1780

Vivienne14

Kentish Brummie Moderator
Staff member
I came across this theatre after learning that Stephenson Street was once named King Street (see Stephanson Street thread). I've extracted a few snippets of information from Wikipedia, summarised below. It would be great if we could add any other information to this, once important, Birmingham Theatre.

* It was the first purpose-built theatre to open in Birmingham - it had earlier theatres, but King Street was an ambitious project based on established London patent theatres

* Opened on 25 September 1751 with its first performance being a "Shakespeare Night and Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musicians". Box seats were 3 shillings, pit was 2 shillings, and gallery 1 shilling.

* Performances started at 7pm, season ran from June to September.

* King Street was built for actor-manager Richard Yates – then at the peak of fame at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - after a highly successful company visit to Birmingham the previous year

* 1760 theatre was under the direction of Thomas Hull. (Regular patrons included William Shenstone, a recognised leader of local society in the era of the Midlands Enlightenment).

* By June 1762, Hull maintained the theatre company with Joseph Younger, who retained his connection with the theatre until 1779

* It closed its doors in 1780, the building sometime thereafter was put to use as a Methodist chapel
 
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Showell's Dictionary tells us the theatre was, at one point, enlarged and was eventually "chapelised"! The date of its building varies from Wiki.

..... another theatre had been erected (in 1752) in King Street, leading out of New Street, near to the Free School, which, being enlarged in 1774, is described by Hutton as having few equals. ......

The King Street Theatre ...... was turned into a place of worship in 1786 ......
 
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