Plymouthhistory

A New Theatre Royal
In 1810, John Foulston won a competition to design a new theatre, hotel and assembly rooms on
George Street. His neo-classical design, with a portico of 30 foot columns, opened in 1813. Its
foundation stone contained a vase of Plymouth porcelain and gold and silver coins for luck. With
thick walls, Foulston believed he had built the only fireproof theatre in the country, but
unfortunately it did catch fire in 1878, and had to be refurbished.
While Foulston’s Theatre Royal was being built, John Kelland defied the local laws by opening a
theatre in his tavern the Fox and Goose near Frankfort Place. The magistrate declared this an
incentive to vice. Kelland was reprimanded and the young actors put in the dock and required to
improve their behaviour. So much for community theatre.
The old Plymouth Theatre at Frankfort Gate did continue for a time and in 1825 presented a short
season of “A Grand Serious Pantomime in four Acts” called “Haradin, the Chief of Turks”, but this
establishment does not appear to have lasted much longer.
The new Theatre Royal opened with Shakespeare’s As You Like It and a version of The Taming of
the Shrew, but the local audience were more interested in singing "Paudeen O'Rafferty," a
disreputable song at the time that was forbidden. Fights broke out and the Mayor had to suppress
the disorder by sending in the constables.
Nineteenth century audiences demanded
spectacle and the Theatre Royal delivered
dramatic aerial effects, flames and herds of live
horses. In 1815, the famous circus performer
Andrew Ducrow ascended the gallery standing
on his head on top of a balloon, with two boys
suspended from the basket.
Foulston's Royal Hotel, Theatre & Assembly Rooms, Plymouth.
In spite of all this, the theatre did not make
money, and the manager Mr Brunton
complained that there was a high ‘moral
principle’ in certain classes that was
undermining theatre in Plymouth. As he
relinquished the lease, Mr Brunton argued
against his critics that drama must show all
aspects of society, the vice as well as the
virtue.
Mr Davenport took over the Theatre Royal’s lease in 1837, announcing he had the fortune to
maintain it, but it was quickly discovered he was interested only in getting himself onto the stage.
His performance of Virginius in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales was so dire that the audience boo’d
him. He ignored them and went on to attempt Othello – well, that small portion of the text he could
remember. Defying all his critics, Mr Davenport insisted on being in every play.
Mr Hay, the next manager, was censured by the Corporation as his plays were considered
immoral. Eventually Mr Hay fell behind in the rent and was forced to leave, declaring it was
impossible to make the Theatre Royal pay:
“It is too large for the town; very frequently it is a mere wilderness; it presents a most
melancholy and comfortless sight; and it is impossible for the actor to dispel the prevailing
sadness."
While Mr Hay was all melancholy, the Dock Theatre was succeeding with comedy in the form of a
performer called James Doel who only had to walk on stage and say “What are you laughing at?”
to have the audience in stitches. In 1824, it became the Devonport Theatre which eventually
closed in 1899 to be reopened on Fore Street the same year. Also private theatricals thrived in
local mansions including Saltram House, making the Theatre Royal difficult to fill.