Grand Theatre, Derby

52°55′10″N 1°28′34″W / 52.919341179611045°N 1.4761842946768076°W / 52.919341179611045; -1.4761842946768076

Historic photograph of the theatre.

The Grand Theatre, Derby was a theatre in Derby in the English Midlands. It was opened in 1886, designed in an Italian renaissance style by a Birmingham architect Oliver Essex. It originally had a capacity of 2,500. Shortly after opening the theatre suffered a major fire, in which two people were killed and the building substantially damaged. Rebuilt it became a successful venue for touring companies and pantomime. In 1950 the theatre was closed down and was later converted into a ballroom.[1]

In 1924 the play Dracula starring Hamilton Deane began its tour in Derby.[2] In 1945 the play A Man About the House premiered at the Grand before transferring to the West End.[3]

  1. ^ Johnson, Robin (18 July 2018). "Look what Derby's historic former Grand Theatre is set to become". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. ^ Browning & Picart p.285
  3. ^ Wearing p.223