This is a compilation of amateur documentary footage of Newcastle upon Tyne’s People’s Theatre, shot in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which looks at the company’s final days at a chapel in Rye Hill and the refurbishment and move to the former Lyric Cinema on Stephenson Road, Heaton, in 1962. This footage is part of the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA) collection. The film opens with a general exterior view of a 1930s brick building with Art Deco...

This is a compilation of amateur documentary footage of Newcastle upon Tyne’s People’s Theatre, shot in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which looks at the company’s final days at a chapel in Rye Hill and the refurbishment and move to the former Lyric Cinema on Stephenson Road, Heaton, in 1962. This footage is part of the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA) collection. The film opens with a general exterior view of a 1930s brick building with Art Deco detailing, the Lyric Cinema at the corner of Beatrice Road and Stephenson Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, soon to house The People’s Theatre. A sign on the building reads: ‘This building is now being converted into an arts centre for the People’s Theatre Arts Group’. In the Lyric theatre courtyard, a man (possibly theatre chairman Arthur Kay) is drilling into the concrete with a pneumatic drill. A small crowd of people watch and clap this ceremony of the breaking of the ground. A speech is made to the crowd. Exterior shot of the old cinema building. This was possibly filmed in 1959. Close-up of a sign that reads ‘The Lyric for Delicious Ices’ cancelled with a ‘closed’ sticker. Shot of the entrance to the theatre advertising “Room at the Top” and the cafe. General view of the theatre location. The next sequence shows the old abandoned chapel in a Rye Hill terrace of dilapidated houses in the west end of Newcastle, at the time, the People’s Theatre premises until their move to the Lyric. Various shots of exterior detail follow. General view of the Lyric Cinema in Heaton. A display board at the Rye Hill Theatre appeals for funds for a new arts centre building, and displays the total money donated so far as £19,257. Men and women (some older women in splendid hats) arrive at the Rye Hill chapel for a fundraising art show for the People’s Theatre. Many people smoke away in the room. Some abstract paintings by Florence Ward are displayed on the wall. People socialise at the event. Two women are pouring out teas in a back room, then washing up. Actresses prepare for the stage in the dressing room, one woman having her hair styled. Actors are getting ready for a performance in the men’s dressing room, making up, drinking a cup of tea or relaxing. General view of demolished houses. General view of the rear of the former Lyric Cinema. Work has started to convert the Lyric Cinema for People’s Theatre occupation. Various shots record exterior and interior work taking place. A few women in the wardrobe department of the People’s Theatre at Rye Hill are getting costumes ready for a performance. A young actress tries on a hat. Sets are being prepared on the theatre stage. A full dress rehearsal takes place on stage. The performance is probably one of the last performances at Rye Hill, a musical version of 'Sweeney Todd' as part of the Blaydon Races Centenary Celebrations in 1962. General view of Percy Street, pan towards Haymarket, recording old stone cottage buildings at the corner of Percy Street with Park Road, including George Wilson premises, and further along, the Royal Liver Friendly Society building and Philip Harker shop. General exterior view of Grainger and Dobson’s Royal Arcade on Pilgrim Street [very dark]. Interior view of an empty Royal Arcade, with a sign for ‘Newcastle Jazz Club’. Close-up of a public notice warning people about falling debris and masonry. [The arcade closed in 1963 and was pulled down to make way for the Pilgrim Street roundabout.] Closer shot of ‘Newcastle Jazz Club’ sign. Men are setting up stage lighting as they refurbish the Lyric Cinema for the People’s Theatre. Various shots record back rooms and men in overalls painting on the theatre stage. General view of the old converted chapel location for the People’s Theatre in Rye Hill and the decay down the street, some housing partly demolished. Back at the new premises at the Lyric Cinema, work is taking place. [repeat shots as before] Inside Rye Hill chapel premises for People’s Theatre, there’s a shot of a performance on stage. At the Lyric Cinema, workers are on the stage [repeat footage]. Shortly after the old People’s Theatre premises at Rye Hill was vacated, the deserted building suffered a fire. A grey-haired man (connected with the People’s Theatre) looks up at the old converted chapel shell, smiles and heads down into the Box Office and Green Room entrance. Further shot of the old theatre sign at the entrance. Exterior views follow of what now looks like a dilapidated building shell. A fireman uses a stick to knock debris away from a wall. Close-up of the old stone plaque for the Presbyterian Church of England, laid on 3rd January 1898. The grey-haired gent walks around the ruins of the old chapel and surveys the destruction. He picks up an old script laying in a pile discarded on the floor. A fire engine stands outside the chapel on Rye Hill. [Colour film – out of focus] A performance takes place on stage in period costume A few guests, men and women, are looking around a new reception area for the People’s Theatre at the Lyric, with a display of abstract art sculptures. The curtains open on a performance at the Lyric. A meal takes place on stage. Actors make up in the men’s dressing room at the theatre, a male bust placed on the shelf in front of the mirror. Actresses are getting ready in the women’s dressing room. Wardrobe mistresses put away a costume and one is at the sewing machine. Men and women relax in a bar, smoking and chatting, probably in the Green Room Club. A display board filled with notices and posters advertises Pete Brown {?} and an evening of ‘Folk Song & Ballad’ on Saturday 13th June featuring Rae Ross of BBC’s Hoothanny show. A close-up shows the hands of a Northumbrian piper, and portrait shots of various folk performers follow, which include close-ups of instruments being played. The audience applaud. Shots of art work displayed on walls in the lobby follow, and a lobby area packed with people, the lights dimmed. A man and woman buy tickets at the ticket office where a poster advertises performances ‘Force of Destiny’ and ‘Faust’.