Down Memory Lane: Fire has been a common theme in the theatrical history of Inverness
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Bill McAllister looks at the Highland capital's fiery relationship with the world of theatre.
Moray House, the dark-bricked 1960s building in Bank Street, stands on the spot which once accommodated the significantly more handsome Theatre Royal until it was burned down 90 years ago next week.
Will Fyffe, at the time one of Britain’s highest-paid music hall performers, was topping the bill the evening the theatre went ablaze on March 16, 1931.
Fyffe, who made his name singing I Belong To Glasgow, even though he came from Dundee, had his own troupe of performers in his revue – including Midget Gladiators – and was shocked when all his team’s costumes and scenery were destroyed in the fire.
It broke out hours after the evening performance on the second night of Fyffe’s run and the best efforts of the fire brigade could not prevent the roof collapsing. Large crowds assembled in Huntly Street to watch the flames devour the theatre and St Columba’s Church, built in 1843.
The star’s only consolation was that the ticket money was in the safe and it was recovered. Undaunted, he secured the use of the Central Picture House in Academy Street and the following night, Fyffe’s show continued.
Inverness’s original Theatre Royal had opened in 1805 in Theatre Lane, later better known as Hamilton Street and now the lane running down the side of Marks and Spencer, behind Inglis Street.
It was closed, however, in 1827 due to the building passing to a new owner who converted it to shops and offices.
The Northern Meeting Rooms was among the venues used for theatre shows and in 1865, the Music Hall opened at 28-34 Union Street, seating 1300 people. It was damaged by fire in 1898 but restored and in 1922 it was acquired by the Methodist Church.
The common theme of fire was to return in 1961 when the church was completely gutted and eventually relocated to Huntly Street.
When a new custom-built theatre emerged in 1882, owned by Miss R Graham-Falcon, she retained the Theatre Royal title.
The Bank Street version created local controversy as it was situated between the Free North Church and St Columba’s – and people quoted the Brahan Seer prediction that when a theatre is built between two churches in Inverness, it would catch fire.
It was an impressive creation. The Era, the stage industry newspaper, stated: "Externally, the building presents a very fine appearance."
It also commented that inside the theatre "is painted and decorated in a rich, but quiet and effective manner, the private boxes are tastefully draped and the dress circle and orchestra stalls comfortably upholstered".
It added: "The ceiling is beautifully decorated a pale French blue, while the cove of the ceiling is enlivened by a series of figures in procession, representing various scenes of country life."
With seating for 800 people, "a large and fashionable assemblage" saw the opening night on November 11, 1882, with a performance by Mr C Bernard’s Les Cloches de Corneville company.
The programme stated that the theatre would be thoroughly disinfected every evening with eucalyptus oil – the sanitiser of its day!
In 1915, a production of Rob Roy was staged by a company of more than 50 local artistes.
The loss of the Theatre Royal was a blow to Inverness but Caledonian Associated Cinemas, who owned the 1100-seater Central Picture House, saw it as an opportunity once it began to regularly host variety shows.
A stage was erected and on September 17, 1934, it became the Empire Theatre, with Sir Harry Lauder being the crowd-pulling star.
Sir Noel Coward, the Dave Clark Five, the Bachelors and the Four Ramblers – including Val Doonican – played the Empire, with Andy Stewart a great favourite.
But by the 1960s, it was in difficulty with only professional wrestling making significant money and it was closed in 1970 and demolished. The Penta Hotel is where it stood.
Next month will see the 45th anniversary of the opening of Eden Court Theatre while next year it will be 140 years since the opening of the graceful but ill-fated Theatre Royal in Bank Street.
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