Theatre Royal Middlesbrough - when did it open?

[middlesbrough]

The book is called The History of Middlesbrough An Illustration of the Evolution of English Industry by William Lillie. You can buy it on ebay (not cheap though). It's quite a large book, almost 500 pages. I also have another book titled Middlesbrough's Good Old Days by Ken Marshall. This book is all about the music hall theatres. It probably has more info than the other if you're just interested in theatre. I don't know where you can buy this as I inherited both of these from my Father who was from Middlesbrough.
Another bit for you from this book.

On 16th September 1867 we find that Hunter's Theatre Royal was opening as Mr Frank Hall's Music Hall. The official reason was Mr Hunter's ill health but in fact Mr Hunter had sold it to Mr Hall. A year later however, Hunter popped up yet again as joint manager of the Royal Albert Theatre.

[macintosh]

As a young boy living near to the Theatre Royal in late 40s early 50s I remember they used to have circus's in the Theatre Royal, animals used to be brought from the North Rd Marshalling yards and craned in their cages into the rear of the Theatre in Albert St. My mother was a cleaner in the Theatre and was often given complimentary tickets for shows which I was given to use, viewing from the "Gods"
She did say it was often rat infested when she went in to start work.
There was also a "theatrical boarding house in High Gosford St which was used by the artistes appearing on the stage.
Happy Days

James

[Barbara Jones]

Dear John Gosling

You have probably seen this:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/MiddlesbroughTheatres.htm#royal

It gives a lot of info about the theatre but no earlier than 1866.  Coincidentally, while searching around for a writing block today, I found one with a pencilled copy I'd made of a letter to The Era by JCH (The Era, 9th June 1883) appealing for financial help after two theatres were burned ("one wood building and one portable theatre, including two waggons, the cost of which was £53").  He goes on to say that losses of wardrobe, scenery, etc totalled around £400.  He gives his address as Pearson's Buildings, Walker Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, and the letter's dated 5th June 1883.

My great-great grandfather, Harry Horatio Deville, who had grown up in his own family theatre company, left my great-great grandmother for JCH's daughter Lilian.  They had 3 or 4 children, he took the additional surname of Dawson and then after some years, he did a disappearing act and I haven't been able to track him down.  To tell you the truth, I kind of lost interest in him for his erratic behaviour (he had been arrested in the later 1890s for drunkenness, threatening behaviour, and general craziness).  If you ever come across him during your JCH research (he was born in 1851 as Harry Horatio Clifton - Deville was a name adopted by his grandfather) let me know. 

The Era's a good place to search, but it takes determination.  Good luck.