Prince's Theatre

The Prince’s Theatre stood on Park Row in Bristol until 1940. Built in 1867 for James Henry Chute, it opened as the New Theatre Royal with a production of The Tempest. The architect was Charles J. Phipps, and the contractor was Davis. The building seated 2,154 people across stalls, pit, dress circle and gallery. Behind the stage stood state-of-the-art machinery using more than 24 miles of rope.

Leading actors of the day appeared there. Henry Irving and Ellen Terry gave their last joint performance in 1902 under Irving’s management. The theatre became famous for pantomime and later became a music hall and cinema. In 1884 the name changed to the Prince’s Theatre after the death of its founder. Frank Matcham remodelled parts of it in 1889 and again in 1902.

Visitors found a grand entrance on Park Row. The front elevation was described as handsome and imposing. Inside, the pit was 64 feet wide and the stage 107 feet including scene docks. The height from stage to gridiron was 59 feet. Safety features included extensive ventilation and fire precautions. The building was later destroyed during the Bristol Blitz in 1940.