History of the Theatre in Exeter
Story of the Northcott theatre
The Exeter Northcott Theatre Today
Past Northcott Theatre Company Productions
History of Theatre in Exeter
The history of theatre in Exeter, or rather of live entertainment for the masses, can be traced back to the Roman occupation of the city. There is a reasonable amount of archaeological evidence that points to the existence of a Roman amphitheatre on Dane's Hill.
Between the 13th and 18th centuries, plays and other formalised story telling were performed by groups of strolling players; companies of actors who would literally walk from town to town performing where they stopped for bed and board. They would perform in any suitable place, as there were no permanent venues. The first reference to a play in Exeter dates from 1348 when a sect known as the "Order of Brothelingham" was forbidden by the Archdeacon and the Dean of Exeter from "holding processions and enacting scenes in the streets". There followed performances of mystery plays by the Skinners Guild, and visits from mummers and minstrels to entertain the mayor. In 1593 Lord Strange's Company performed Marlowe's Dr Faustus in a city inn. So the story goes, they were so convincing that they actually managed to conjure forth the devil himself! The inn emptied very rapidly!
Following the closure of the London playhouses by Act of Parliament in 1643, many such groups disappeared, and the revival during the Restoration had very little impact in the South West. It wasn't until 1721 that the first regular theatre venue opened in Exeter. This was an upstairs room in the Seven Stars Inn, and perhaps its greatest claim to fame was that the first regional production of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera was performed there in 1728, only a few months after opening in London.
Exeter was at this time a thriving city; the fourth biggest in population and wealth. In 1735, this wealth found its way to producing the first purpose-built theatre; The Exeter Theatre in Waterbeare Street, situated just behind the Guildhall and Turk's Head pub. This thrived until 1787 under a variety of managers, presenting annual seasons of 20-30 nights, from October to April. During the season an act was seldom repeated, so the repertory was huge! The last manager, Richard Hughes, was an ambitious man and he set about building a new theatre in Bedford Circus which became...
The New Theatre (1787 to 1820)
The New Theatre, opening in 1787. Sarah Siddons was engaged for the 1789/90 season, and was an instant success. In 1811 the legendary Edmund Kean appeared there with his revolutionary sympathetic portrayal of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. This caused such a sensation that when the show was transferred to London he was billed as "Mr Kean of Exeter". Sadly, in 1820, the first of the fires that are to punctuate the history of theatre in Exeter gutted the building.
Only the collonade remained, to be incorporated into a new building which opened in 1821: The Theatre Royal, West Southernhay. In 1885 however, this building too was destroyed by fire, with the only recorded casualty being the property of a clown - a pig!
The Theatre Royal (1821 to 1885)
In 1886 the second Theatre Royal opened in Longbrook Street and the Exeter Theatre Company was formed. The building, seating 1500, was built with a terrifying disregard to the former fires, and was almost exclusively timber-lined. On 5th September 1887, on the first night of a romantic drama called Romany Rye, disaster struck. Up in the flys, the naked gas jets used to illuminate the stage, set some drapes alight, and very quickly the whole theatre was ablaze. The fire claimed 186 victims, mainly from the upper gallery where there was only one exit, with a ticket office blocking the route halfway down. It was a dreadful night, despite many desperately heroic acts of bravery. The theatre was destroyed, but since that date, stringent safety regulations have been in force in British theatres.
On the same site in 1889 the New Theatre Royal opened and, in the 74 years of the theatre's existence a wealth of entertainment was brought to Exeter. The decline came in the 1950's and sadly the building was bought for demolition in 1962.
With grateful thanks to The
Friends of Exeter Northcott
fortheir financial support
for this site.
