About the Jubilee Theatre
The Jubilee Theatre St Nicholas Hospital Gosforth opened in 1899, this 109 year old Victorian Theatre with it's beautiful proscenium Doulton tiles by W.J. Neatby, was built for Staff & Patients of the Hospital.
The Theatre was used to put on shows and also dances, with a sprung dance floor made from Maple. Below this floor there is also a full sized orchestra pit, not used today but could be if part of the front of stage was removed as this has been extended recently covering the orchestra pit up.
In the early 1920's a projection room was added at the back of the building, so films could be shown housing at least two projectors which are still there today but are not used now. A cinema screen was also purchased and could be flown in, in front of the proscenium arch, as you can see (in our gallery) this came in a large wooden box on a large steel roller and was wound up from the roof space to it's full height with lead weights, we also still have the original screen and it's box.
There are two doors leading into the Theatre from the corridor next to each other, this was because in those days the hospital was divided up men at one end and women at the other, the doors had to be entered left by men and right door by women, and when going through to the main auditorium men had to stay on the left and women on the right, they were only allowed to get together for dancing. Doctors and other staff sat next to the stage, and occasionally danced with a few patients.
On the men's side there was also a door out to the smoking promenade, which is now a Fire corridor. Early 1900's Stan Laurel is said to have performed on this stage.