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Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
The Hippodrome Theatre
The first theatre at 33 and 34, Snargate Street was the
Clarence Theatre built in 1790 and later called the Theatre
Royal. It was founded by a local company, the capital being
raised by the sale of £50 shares.
For a little while its use as a theatre was abandoned, and an
advertisement appeared in the local papers stating that:
'the building recently used as as Theatre may be hired by the
day or the week for any public purposes.'
In 1844 the Inauguration Banquet to celebrate the opening of
the South Eastern Railway was held there. The building
reopened as a Theatre shortly afterwards.
In 1896 it was rebuilt and opened as the Tivoli Theatre but the
name was changed again in March 1910, when it became the
Royal Hippodrome.
The Hippodrome could seat 600 and had its entrance on
Snargate Street. In the early 20th century it doubled as both
cinema and theatre being used by both professional companies
and local amateurs. Its main entertainment was variety shows
with two shows a night and the programme changing every
week.
During the Second World War the Hippodrome proudly upheld
the old theatrical saying that “the show must go on” despite
the, often heavy, shelling and bombing. Through nearly the
whole of the war the stars appearing at the theatre helped to
keep up the morale of servicemen and women and the civilian
population.
Having survived as long as it did, it was a cruel irony that it
was one of the last shells to land on Dover that finally closed it.
On Monday 25th September 1944 a shell that caused extensive
damage blasted the theatre. It was due to open again after
being closed for over two weeks because of the heavy shelling.
The comedian Sandy Powell had offered to appear as a guest
star on the Wednesday night. Unfortunately, the theatre was
so badly damaged, with a deep crack appearing in one of the
walls, it never opened again. The building was finally
demolished in 1951.
Clarence Theatre built in 1790 and later called the Theatre
Royal. It was founded by a local company, the capital being
raised by the sale of £50 shares.
For a little while its use as a theatre was abandoned, and an
advertisement appeared in the local papers stating that:
'the building recently used as as Theatre may be hired by the
day or the week for any public purposes.'
In 1844 the Inauguration Banquet to celebrate the opening of
the South Eastern Railway was held there. The building
reopened as a Theatre shortly afterwards.
In 1896 it was rebuilt and opened as the Tivoli Theatre but the
name was changed again in March 1910, when it became the
Royal Hippodrome.
The Hippodrome could seat 600 and had its entrance on
Snargate Street. In the early 20th century it doubled as both
cinema and theatre being used by both professional companies
and local amateurs. Its main entertainment was variety shows
with two shows a night and the programme changing every
week.
During the Second World War the Hippodrome proudly upheld
the old theatrical saying that “the show must go on” despite
the, often heavy, shelling and bombing. Through nearly the
whole of the war the stars appearing at the theatre helped to
keep up the morale of servicemen and women and the civilian
population.
Having survived as long as it did, it was a cruel irony that it
was one of the last shells to land on Dover that finally closed it.
On Monday 25th September 1944 a shell that caused extensive
damage blasted the theatre. It was due to open again after
being closed for over two weeks because of the heavy shelling.
The comedian Sandy Powell had offered to appear as a guest
star on the Wednesday night. Unfortunately, the theatre was
so badly damaged, with a deep crack appearing in one of the
walls, it never opened again. The building was finally
demolished in 1951.
