unique – literally untouched by major
development.
Actor Henry Nye Chart was appointed
manager of the theatre in 1854 and he
made some immediate changes to the
interior with the removal of the Royal
box and the addition of backs to the pit
benches and in 1866 Chart formed a
syndicate to buy the theatre outright. It
was then rebuilt by Charles Phipps in the
summer and autumn of 1866.
Phipps had a huge impact and he
literally raised the roof! He remodelled
the auditorium by adding the gallery
and installing the two metre tall, one
tonne heavy chandelier, A conservatory
was built out from the first floor over
the colonnade and new galleries were
added, increasing the capacity to 1,900.
He updated the auditorium into his
trademark horseshoe shape, with
three closely spaced, steep balconies,
supported by iron columns. Phipps
also added an extension to the first
floor, which may have been the first
Royal Circle bar. The shape of Phipps’
auditorium remains today, but few of his
decorative features are left, apart from
the stage boxes, and the magnificent two
metre tall chandelier, which weighs one
tonne and is still cleaned, as it was then
– by lowering it down to floor level. The
Theatre Royal reopened on 15 October
1866.
Nearby buildings were modified in the
re-developments; and Theatre Royal
Brighton now incorporates not only the
fishermen’s cottages, but also a courtyard
and even a twitten. Some of the cottage
rooms are still intact and a facade can be
seen within the backstage area.
In 1807, the theatre was built on land
purchased from the Prince Regent,
George IV. George personally approved
plans for the theatre and gave his royal
assent for it to be constructed on a “New
Road” on his estate. The theatre was
completed in just 10 months; an amazing
achievement for the construction
industry and in today’s environs planning
for buildings can take that time.
This historic building, which incorporates
features from the past 200 years
and beyond, has had a continuous
performance history with some
modifications in the Twentieth Century.
Theatre Royal Brighton is one of the
top ten oldest working theatres in the
UK, and predates the remodelled Royal
Pavilion.
Scenic artists assisted in the flamboyant
décor at the nearby Royal Pavilion,
and it is thought that some of the same
painters may have been employed at the
theatre. It was one of the first theatres
in the country to use gas lighting (very
modern technology, utilised at the
Pavilion) and remnants of the gas light
fittings still exist.
There are pictures of the original façade
of the 1807 theatre, but no image of the
original auditorium has come to light,
although it is believed that the basic
shape of this auditorium has changed
very little.
The much-loved venue, which has
grown organically over the years, is
made up of 11 buildings on one site and
combines domestic elements combined
with Fisherman’s cottages dating
back to 1750, with Georgian houses
adjacent to the auditorium. She is quite
Henry Nye Chart, who died aged 55 on
17 June 1876, left the theatre to his wife
Elizabeth ‘Nellie’ Chart; she assumed
full control and management, and
further enhanced its reputation. Touring
companies brought new productions to
the town, and ‘morning performances’
or ‘flying matinees’ were introduced
with a London company bringing their
production down for a single daytime
performance before returning to the
capital for that evening. The theatre was
also known for its pantomimes, and
a free performance was given every
Christmas for the workhouse inmates.
A letter of thanks sent by inmates can
be seen mounted on the wall in the
theatre today.
In 1883 Mrs Chart purchased 9 New
Road for use as her own residence, and
in 1889 formed the Brighton Theatre
Royal Company with Henry Infield as
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