Hauntedland - Newcastle Theatre Royal Report

Newcastle Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal in Newcastle is a grand building in every way. I've seen many performances on it's stage and when the opportunity came to go behind the scenes it was an opportunity I didn't want to miss. I was also quite excited as this would be my first investigation with NGI.

The Night Begins
Before things got started we all gathered in the dressing room at the back of the theatre. We'd have a security guide for the night who'd show us about. We asked if there'd be an objection to using a Ouija Board and was surprised that the guide said yes and she didn't want us to use it!

After a very long pre-investigation tour of the building by the guide I began to wonder if we'd ever get started. We went from the changing rooms to a very large and black painted backstage. It was great to see all the equipment from behind the scenes in place and ready to use for the next performance. From here we went via underground corridors, restricted stairs and public areas up to the top most galleries to look down to the stage from a great height.

The investigation finally began but it was unfortunate that after being shown all over the building, we were restricted to investigate only the seated area of the theatre with our guide for the night obsessed by health and safety. The lights were dimmed – not turned off, and so already the excitement started to drain. We were also told to not leave the area without informing the guide as they would have to lead us to wherever we needed to go.

We split into three teams and each included a medium. Each team was then escorted to a floor of their own. At some point we all visited the stalls, grand circle, upper circle, gallery and boxes.

Rumours of a grey lady occasionally making appearences was something to look forward too but if she was coming tonight, there was no hurry.

Although I personally didn’t experience anything unusual, the mediums picked up on various people, one of who may have been a manager there. Ralph Keeton, who was with my group, said this man may have had a heart attack as he could feel a pressure on his chest. Temperature fluctuations were felt as well as the sound of breathing out.

Knocks and taps were heard but this sounded too much like a settling building to me.

The team and I had spread out all over the auditorium and gallery boxes hoping to experience something. Some people had even fell asleep and to be honest I could hear my bed calling now.

The Night Ends
A séance at the end rounded off the evening. Ralph did some calling out to request a response of some kind. After a few attempts and with no response he gave up trying. Again I sensed nothing and the medium himself said that there was not a lot of activity tonight.

I took a number of photos and did capture the resident orbs that, interestingly, were where some of the team suggested they could sense someone, but otherwise it was a fairly quiet evening.

Had the team been given full, unrestricted access and were able to conduct the investigation the way they are used to, things may have turned out differently. But, this is paranormal investigating for you – it will happen when it happens.

I enjoyed the building regardless of the inactivity.

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Location: Newcastle Theatre Royal
Where: Newcastle
Visit: 13th April 2007
Time: 11.00pm to 5.00am

Newcastke Theatre Royal History
Edited extract from Wikipedia

The Theatre Royal is a Grade I listed building situated on Grey Street in Newcastle upon Tyne. It was designed by local architects John and Benjamin Green as part of Richard Grainger's grand design for the centre of Newcastle, and was opened on 20 February 1837 with a performance of The Merchant of Venice.

Following a performance of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, a huge fire destroyed the interior of the building in 1899. It had its interior redesigned by Frank Matcham and reopened on 31 December 1901. The theatre's restaurant is named after Matcham. Externally, the building is exactly as it was when it was first built.

It underwent a major refurbishment and restoration in the latter part of the 1980s, reopening on 11 January 1988 with a performance of A Man For All Seasons starring Charlton Heston.

The stage itself is also of substantial size, and can house 50 singers, dancers, actors and musicians.

Over 100 people staff the theatre, most of whom work behind the scenes. The theatre is reputedly also home to a resident ghost (supposedly a very friendly lady from the 19th century nicknamed 'The Grey Lady'). (She apparently committed suicide in the main theatre hall by jumping off the gods' circle) But details of this are hard to come by, and she certainly hasn't been seen recently. Theatre literature and leaflets do, however, mention her.