[2] The backstage area was damaged by fire in 1985, with subsequent rebuilding restoring the Victorian stage machinery.
The north part of the building is located within the boundary of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site.
One set of boxes at either side framed in Orders below and by two large female terms at top stage.
[11] The Tyne Theatre & Opera House originally opened on Monday 23 September 1867 and was designed by William Parnell for Joseph Cowen (1829-1900), politician and industrialist, and son of Sir Joseph Cowen, a prominent citizen and Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne from 1865 to 1873.
Money for the construction and no doubt materials for the theatre came from the family business, the Blaydon Brickworks, four miles west of Newcastle.
Harris had very successfully run the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London since 1879 and has been referred to as the ‘Father of modern Pantomime’.
The buildings that currently house the Bistro Bar and the shops to the West of the theatre were added at this time creating a Grand Salon for entrance to the stalls and circle seating.
[13] These partnerships with larger groups brought major stars and spectacularly staged productions to the theatre.
[14] The theatre was leased by Sir Oswald Stoll and converted for cinema use by 1919 (following on from some experimentation in 1916 by Howard & Wyndham).
The theatre machinery was left in situ and the key changes at this time included the construction of a projector box at Upper Circle level, a cinema screen over the stage and alterations to the entrances of the building.
Miraculously, the task of rebuilding began almost immediately under the direction of Mr Jack Dixon, who was responsible for organising the original restoration programme in 1977.
With the insurance money, the Company set about replacing the damaged structure and refurbishing the auditorium to a higher standard than had previously been possible.
Unfortunately, this arrangement was short-lived and by 1989, the New Tyne Theatre and Opera House Company Limited was in a difficult position financially.
The City Council and other interested parties intended to create a national centre of excellence in the performing arts – based around the theatre.
During the time of his ownership, Watkin maintained the theatre building and honoured the previous owner's agreement with the college to improve the performing arts facilities.
By the late 1990s Watkin sought to recover some of his financial losses from the theatre by subdividing and selling off portions of the associated properties.
SMG Europe stepped away from the theatre in December 2014 after Newcastle Panto Company's Christmas production.
[9] Apart from actors and actresses, there were various types of entertainers and speakers, as the theatre was also used for a time to hold Sunday lecture circuits.