Jubilee Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Jubilee Theatre, is a grade II listed building theatre. It opened in 1899 in St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth
, Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
.
was opened on May 30th 1900 Victorian
with a beautiful proscenium arch of Doulton tiles by W.J. Neatby, depicting two pre-Raphaelite figures which face East & West, as the Theatre faces True North & South. It was built for Staff & Patients of the Hospital.
Originally, the theatre had a sprung dance floor
made from maple
and a full sized orchestra pit
, and was used for both shows
and dance
s. The orchestra pit is currently not in use, but could be if part of the front of the stage
was removed, as the stage was recently extended covering the orchestra pit.
So that film
s could be shown in the theatre a projection room was added to the back of the building in 1920 housing at least two movie projector
s. They remain, but are not in use, currently sealed off. Together with the projection room there was a cinema screen
which could be lowered in front of the proscenium.
Two door
s lead into the theatre from the main corridor. The male
and female
patients
at the hospital were constantly separated; men would enter using the door on the left, and women the right door. Rules dictated that men stayed on the left of the auditorium and women on the right, and were only allowed together for dancing. On the men's side there is a door out to a corridor which was previously used as the 'Gentlemen's Smoking Promenade' and is now used as a fire corridor.
a drama group for sufferers of Mental Health
Difficulties, which was founded in 1998 and First Act Theatre, a youth theatre company who have operated from the theatre since 1992.
On 29 October 2008 the Board of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust approved a proposal which, when implemented, will allow the theatre to continue to be used for community purposes. The arrangement means that the Trust now also uses the theatre as a medical education venue during certain working hours, leaving the theatre available for theatrical activities at all other times.
Gosforth
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, to the north of the city centre. Gosforth constituted an urban district from 1895 to 1974, when it became part of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It has a population of 23,620...
, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The theatreTheater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
was opened on May 30th 1900 Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
with a beautiful proscenium arch of Doulton tiles by W.J. Neatby, depicting two pre-Raphaelite figures which face East & West, as the Theatre faces True North & South. It was built for Staff & Patients of the Hospital.
Originally, the theatre had a sprung dance floor
Sprung floor
A sprung floor is a floor that absorbs shocks, giving it a softer feel. Such floors are considered the best available for dance and indoor sports and physical education....
made from maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
and a full sized orchestra pit
Orchestra pit
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music or in cases when incidental music is required...
, and was used for both shows
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
s. The orchestra pit is currently not in use, but could be if part of the front of the stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
was removed, as the stage was recently extended covering the orchestra pit.
So that film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s could be shown in the theatre a projection room was added to the back of the building in 1920 housing at least two movie projector
Movie projector
A movie projector is an opto-mechanical device for displaying moving pictures by projecting them on a projection screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in movie cameras.-Physiology:...
s. They remain, but are not in use, currently sealed off. Together with the projection room there was a cinema screen
Projection screen
A projection screen is an installation consisting of a surface and a support structure used for displaying a projected image for the view of an audience. Projection screens may be permanently installed, as in a movie theater; painted on the wall; or semi-permanent or mobile, as in a conference room...
which could be lowered in front of the proscenium.
Two door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
s lead into the theatre from the main corridor. The male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
and female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
patients
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
at the hospital were constantly separated; men would enter using the door on the left, and women the right door. Rules dictated that men stayed on the left of the auditorium and women on the right, and were only allowed together for dancing. On the men's side there is a door out to a corridor which was previously used as the 'Gentlemen's Smoking Promenade' and is now used as a fire corridor.
Current usage
Currently the theatre is primarily used by two groups: Juniper ProductionsJuniper Productions
- The Jubilee Theatre :The theatre was opened on May 30th 1900 Victorian with a beautiful proscenium arch of Doulton tiles by W.J. Neatby, depicting two pre-Raphaelite figures which face East & West, as the Theatre faces True North & South. It was built for Staff & Patients of the Hospital.The...
a drama group for sufferers of Mental Health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
Difficulties, which was founded in 1998 and First Act Theatre, a youth theatre company who have operated from the theatre since 1992.
On 29 October 2008 the Board of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust approved a proposal which, when implemented, will allow the theatre to continue to be used for community purposes. The arrangement means that the Trust now also uses the theatre as a medical education venue during certain working hours, leaving the theatre available for theatrical activities at all other times.
Notable actors
The Jubliee Theatre has been a stage to a number of actors during their early career, including:- Jill HalfpennyJill HalfpennyJill Halfpenny is an English actress.Halfpenny is best known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1999–2000, and as Kate Mitchell in rival soap EastEnders, from 2002-2005...
- Donna AirDonna AirDonna Air is an English television presenter, singer and actress.-Early life:As a former student of Gosforth High School, Donna attended the Drama School at First Act in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, where she was a pupil alongside Jill Halfpenny, Ant & Dec and Dale Meeks.-Television:She became...
- Dale MeeksDale Meeks-Acting career:Meeks is best known for his role as Simon Meredith in the British TV drama Emmerdale. He also starred in Byker Grove as the leader of a gang from rival youth club Denton Burn between 1990 and 1992, and the 1960s set drama Heartbeat....
- Cheryl TweedyCheryl ColeCheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
- Michael O'RiordanMichael O'RiordanMichael O'Riordan was the founder of the Communist Party of Ireland and also fought with the Connolly Column in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.-Early life:...