City's jewel endures test of time

GENERALLY accepted as Newcastle's finest building and a shining jewel in the region's crown, our nighttime view of the Theatre Royal from 1975 reveals a scene that is little-changed half a century later.

- By DAVID MORTON

The Theatre Royal at night, Grey Street, Newcastle, in 1975 The Theatre Royal on Grey Street, Newcastle, in September 2025

Sitting timelessly on the city's elegant Grey Street, and long at the heart of the North East's cultural and arts scene, the theatre was hosting a typically packed schedule of productions this month 50 years ago, as revealed in an advert on the Evening Chronicle's regular listings page.

For one week from Monday, October 6, 1975, you could see a comedy called Boeing Boeing, starring television favourites of the time, Richard O'Sullivan, Yootha Joyce and Sally Thomsett.

There was more laughter the following week with Brian Rix and Terrence Alexander starring in a ‘hilarious farce’ titled A Bit Between The Teeth.