What's happening with Manchester's iconic Theatre Royal with former nightclub now shut for 15 years

The Grade II listed building, built in 1845, is actually the oldest surviving theatre in Manchester. It has been many things during its long life, including a cinema, bingo hall and popular nightclub. The list of people known to have appeared here ranges from Charles Dickens to Take That. 

Despite this legacy, its grand appearance and prime location, it has been mostly unused for over a decade. Both SAVE Britain’s Heritage and the Theatres Trust have added it to the at-risk registers in an attempt to revitalise it.

The theatre was built by John Knowles, the son of a wealthy businessman who made his fortune as a coal merchant and manufacturer of marble chimneys. His first foray into the theatre business was as the manager of the first Theatre Royal, which was located on Fountain Street. But after that burned down in 1844, he decided to start again – this time building his own in the prestigious location next to Manchester’s Free Trade Hall, now the Edwardian hotel by Radisson. 

It was built in the Classical style of architecture, with Corinthian columns and a portico. Theatres Trust describes it as “ one of the finest examples of theatre architecture to have survived in Britain from the first half of the nineteenth century.” In fact, it is even believed to have been a source of inspiration for the front of the Royal Opera House in London. 

John Knowles was the proprietor of the theatre for thirty years and saw great success during his tenure. A number of the biggest stars of the time performed there, including Charles Dickens, who appeared in the play Every Man in his Humour in 1847. Knowles sold the theatre in 1875 and it was remodelled. In 1921, it was converted to a cinema due to competition from the Palace Theatre, which was built in 1891, and the rise of cinema. 

In 1972 it was then converted into a bingo hall, but then changed uses again just six years later and became a nightclub, changing its name to Discotheque Royale. It was operated by First Leisure Corporation, who also ran the Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens.

It was hugely popular in the 1990s, partly thanks to Love Train nights, hosting celebrities such as Manchester United’s David Beckham and Ryan Giggs. It also hosted an episode of the TV show The Hitman and Her, in which Take That made their first ever television appearance. It changed names a few times, first to Infinity, then to M2 and finally the Coliseum, before closing for good in 2009. 

According to the Theatres Trust, it was earmarked for use as the new location of the Library Theatre before HOME was built on First Street, but it was eventually bought by The Edwardian hotel group, who own the neighbouring hotel in the former Free Trade Hall, in 2012.  In 2013, the Theatres Trust added it to its at-risk register. 

The Theatres Trust website reads: “[Edwardian Hotels London] has yet to release its proposals for the building and, in the meantime, has been using it as ancillary accommodation including as a workshop and store. While neither are the optimum use for the building, at least this has meant that the hotel group is aware of any urgent maintenance issues.”

The Theatres Trust visited the site in 2019 together with a Manchester City Council planning case offer, where they noticed that some minor work had been carried out without listed building consent. The Theatres Trust have also stressed the importance of making sure the fragile plasterwork is maintained, although more research is needed to understand the extent of its architectural significance. 

Regarding the current state of the former theatre, the organisation says: “Theatres Trust has been contacted by several different organisations all with a potential interest in acquiring the building and reopening it for entertainment use. This could see a vibrant and sympathetic new use for the theatre.

“Theatres Trust will continue to seek a route to open discussions with Edwardian Hotels London and / or a future owner to ensure that any proposals for the Theatre Royal will preserve the significance of this important building and not preclude it from being brought back into live performance use in the future.”