Arthur Whatmore visited Hull in December 1923 to produce a play for the Amateur Operatic Society.
[1] Whatmore then booked the Lecture Hall, part of the Assembly Rooms in Kingston Square.
Whatmore opened on 13 September 1924 for a four-week season of modern plays with a core of professional actors supplemented by local amateurs.
[6] The whole scheme, which included the purchasing of two adjoining houses, taking back and re-building of the stage, creating dressing rooms and offices, and the redecorating of the whole theatre, cost £17,000.
A fire broke out backstage overnight on 21 January 1930 and the theatre was closed for repairs for 2 months.
[4] From its inception the company fostered talented young actors, many of whom went on to greater fame on the London stage or in film.