About Us
About Us
The New Theatre Royal Lincoln – Bringing The Very Best In Live Entertainment Since 1893.
The New Theatre Royal in Lincoln is 130 years old and welcomes over 90,000 people per year into its auditorium. The Grade II listed building was renamed to the Theatre Royal Lincoln but was later given back its original name of New Theatre Royal Lincoln in September 2016 when the theatre was taken over and brought back to life again by a dedicated theatre family. In 2020 and 2021, we were incredibly proud and honoured to have received the Lincoln Civic Award, presented to us by the outgoing Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Sue Burke.
Here are some historic facts about the theatre…
- The ‘New Theatre’ was originally reopened on 18 December 1893 after London architect’s Bertie Crewe and W.G.R Sprague designed and built New Theatre Royal Lincoln following a fire in 1892. The play on that Grand Opening Night was the new and popular Charley’s Aunt by W.S. Penley. It was performed by a company from the Globe Theatre, London with admission prices of 3s in the Dress Circle, 2s in the Stalls, 1s in the Pit, and 6d in the Gallery.
- 1920s ‘New Theatre’ programme offered a variety of up to five different shows of plays, musicals and opera a week for avid theatre goers to enjoy.
- The 1940s saw a change in tradition with a risqué offering of nude performers from Paris and striptease artists including the famous Phyllis Dixey.
- 1950 welcomed the most spectacular ice show and circuses including lions, lamas and geese.. and even a trapeze act which flew over the audience – think Barnum and The Greatest Showman to Lincoln’s stage.
- From 1976 to 1993 the City Council leased the building to Paul Elliot Entertainment in association with Chris Moreno and then after a decade of uncertainty the theatre reopened in 2016 for a new beginning bringing back the best artists to Lincoln’s most loved and cherished theatre venue.
