On Thursday 13 February 2025 the Tyne Theatre & Opera House, a Grade 1 listed Victorian theatre in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, held an opening event for their 1867 Hall and Cafe. The occasion formally marked the completion of an initial phase of ambitious development works made possible with funding from North East Combined Authority and Newcastle City Council, as part of Creative Central NCL.
Delivered and managed in house, the project has been completed four months ahead of schedule and on budget. The programme of works has seen the installation of a new energy efficient central heating system, which serves the whole theatre. A double-height space has been created in the former Bistro Bar, which has been renamed the 1867 Hall, and will now serve as an adaptable performance, community, and hospitality space. A further addition is the beautiful 1867 Cafe Bar, which is open during the day and is also the location of the theatre’s box office. The works are the first significant step to expand and diversify the theatre’s offering as an event and community engagement space, with the goal of future-proofing the venue.
Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, officially opened the space – the event commemorated with a plaque on the wall of the 1867 Hall. Before unveiling the plaque, the Mayor spoke about the importance of arts and culture to the development of the region and how spaces like the 1867 Hall and Cafe will help ensure arts and culture can be more accessible.
Kim McGuinness said: “I’m excited by the potential the restoration of the Tyne Theatre and Opera House offers the future of our arts, music and cultural offer, not just in Newcastle, but across the North East. Culture and the arts are who we are. It’s in our DNA. It’s this heritage and spirit I want to harness as Mayor to chart our region’s future. Arts, culture and creative industries will never be an add on – they will be at the centre of everything I want to do as Mayor.”
The Tyne Theatre and Opera House Preservation Trust, which owns the theatre, is now applying for funding to move forward with the next phase of the project. The trust aims to further develop the 1867 Hall which occupies the footprint of the former Westgate Music Hall. The ambition is to create an additional theatre space which will be able to host community theatre events, alongside the theatre’s main auditorium programming of comedy, music, pantomime, dance, talks and more.
Project Director David Wilmore has said: “This is just the beginning of an extraordinary journey to restore our second theatre space – a ‘lost’ theatre buried by a century of sub-divisions and alterations. When fully completed it will provide a magical community theatre space seating 325 with heritage ambience and 21st century facilities.”
The opening event also saw performances from local musicians, including volunteers from Tyne Theatre Productions who performed songs from their upcoming performances of Jesus Christ Superstar happening in February half-term. The success and development of the theatre relies on contributions from volunteers, like the Tyne Theatre Productions creative team and performers, who give their time for free to ensure all funds raised from these performances can go directly to the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust.
The theatre also thanks The Foyle Foundation who funded the technical equipment in the 1867 Hall and Sir James Knott Trust who funded the cafe furniture.
Theatre CEO Jonathan Higgins has said: “To officially open this space and look ahead to see the potential ways in which we can utilise it for the benefit of the local community is fantastic. This project was only made possible by the work of our staff, trustees, volunteers and most importantly visiting audiences, whose involvement with the theatre is what guarantees its future. We’d encourage everyone to pay us a visit to see a show or have a drink in our Cafe and continue to be a part in the Tyne Theatre & Opera House’s ongoing story.”
Tyne Theatre & Opera House is currently celebrating 10 years operating as an independent venue. Since 2015, the theatre has been operated as a not-for-profit organisation, with all money raised through box office income, venue hire and bar sales going directly to the maintenance, restoration and development of the heritage venue.
To learn more about the theatre or see what shows are coming soon, take a look at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House website: https://www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk