1850
In the beginning...
The building that we see today began life in 1850 as The Market Hotel. It was used as a convenient stop-over point for farmers on their way to sell their cattle at the cattle market and buy implements and provisions from the Corn Exchange (now the Discovery Centre)
From hotel to theatre
The building was bought by the Simpkins brothers who converted it by extending into the yard at the rear of hotel. The building opened as a cine variety theatre in 1914. A typical evening's entertainment consisted of variety acts and melodramas, interspersed with screenings of silent films and the Pathé Gazette newsreel. The theatre was converted into a full time cinema in 1920.
1912
1974
Theatre under threat
In June 1974 the owners of the cinema closed it down and applied for a demolition order with a view to erecting commercial premises on the site. Winchester City Council responded by securing a Grade II listing for the building. Within two months the Winchester Theatre Fund was formed, its aim to "restore live theatre in Winchester", with the Theatre Royal as its first project.
A new lease of life
With the help of the City Council, various trusts and a programme of fundraising, Winchester Theatre Fund purchased the building in April 1977 for £35,000 and pressed ahead with plans for its restoration. In 1978 the two adjoining buildings (22-23 Jewry Street) were purchased. After four years of darkness, the lights came on again in November 1978. Temporary closures for building work continued until the refurbished theatre re-opened fully in September 1981. In 1987 projection facilities were added and the Royal once again became both theatre and "picture palace".
1978
1996
Heritage and modernity
In January 1996 the doors closed one more time for the present extensive refurbishment, made possible by the support of the National Lottery Board of the Arts Council of England, Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council, the Southern Arts Board, local businesses and private donations. The scheme included a sympathetic restoration of period details including the proscenium arch, decorative pilasters and original plasterwork in the auditorium. It also included a contemporary curved wall with glazed inserts based on the west window of Winchester Cathedral by artist Sue Kennington, plus contemporary architectural detail and a bold colour scheme which reflects the heritage of the building.
A theatre for today and the future
After five years of hard work, overcoming numerous obstacles and setbacks, the refurbishment was completed in 2001 and the theatre re-opened. It is still owned by the Winchester Theatre Fund and is now operated by Live Theatre Winchester Trust Ltd. It offers a dynamic programme of drama, music, dance and comedy making it a focal point for the cultural life of the city and beyond.
2001
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