Wolverhampton Grand at 125: Exhibition marked curtain up
An exhibition to mark the reopening of Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre after a devastating shutdown lasting almost three years was launched at the town's art gallery.
In our picture, taken in August 1983, a staff member puts the finishing touches to the show, entitled Curtains, which ran for six weeks. The Lichfield Street theatre had been closed since January 1981 following financial difficulties.
Organiser Peter Neeld described it as a spectacular display of theatre stage design and memorabilia – with a major part of the exhibition devoted to the Grand Theatre.
On show were early play bills, advertising, photographs and illustrations. But the gallery event illustrated not only the town's theatrical riches but also some of its saddest losses.
Pictured in the forefront of our photograph are images of two former Wolverhampton theatres, the Prince of Wales and the Empire Palace, both of which were razed to the ground in fires.
The Prince of Wales in Bilston Street, opened in 1853, was originally a concert hall which was totally refurbished three decades later to become The Star Theatre, presenting melodramas and pantomimes.
It reverted to its original name in 1902 and two years later briefly became the home of circus, being renamed The Hippodrome, until the building was destroyed by fire in February 1905 .
The Empire Palace Theatre, built and opened in 1898, looked on to Queen Square. It also changed its name to the Hippodrome and presented variety until September 1931 when it briefly became a cinema. It closed for good in 1956.
The Grand opened its doors in 1894 and is still thriving today. This photograph is reproduced as part of the paper's celebration of the theatre's 125th anniversary.
* If you have any stories or pictures of visits to the Grand, email 125@grandtheatre.co.uk or in writing to 125 Memories Project, c/o Stage Door, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1DE.
