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Hippodrome / Coventry Theatre / Apollo show archive

An attempt to list all the shows ever performed at our Hippodromes, beginning with the temporary circus buildings, which from 1884 were specially erected on Pool Meadow for each visit - then, in 1903, to the first permanent, but short-lived, 'Tin' Hippodrome on the Priory Street side of Pool Meadow facing the old Swimming Baths. The popularity of these shows created the demand for a theatre worthy of our city, and so in 1906 began the construction in Hales Street, next to Swanswell Gate, of what we now regard as the Old Hippodrome.
Again, the success of this theatre meant that barely three decades later a greater capacity was required, and so we come to our lovely art-deco New Hippodrome in Hales Street, once known as the Showplace of the Midlands. Opening on the 1st November 1937, it was renamed Coventry Theatre in 1955, then from 1979 became The Apollo, giving its final performance in June 1985. After a short spell as a bingo hall it was eventually realised that such a building could not be put to any practical use, so, sadly, it was demolished in 2002. If anyone still has any tickets or programmes and would like to see them used to illustrate a show, please contact me.



1884 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

1984

Apollo Theatre, Hales Street

Date(s)ShowNotesImages
Mon 23rd Jan until Sat 28th Jan 1984Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"A dazzling rainbow mix of music, song and action." (Note: the spelling in the title is the American way, and should be "Technicolour"!)
Thu 2nd Feb 1984Butlins Variety ShowStarring Craig Douglas plus full support.
Wed 14th Mar 1984Charity Fashion SpectacularOrganised by Marks & Spencer. Once again they raised about £3,000 for charity.
Thu 15th Mar 1984Cannon and BallPart of their Spring Tour. One night only.
Sun 18th Mar 1984Charley PridePlus support. One night only.
Wed 21st Mar until Sat 24th Mar 1984Look No HansComedy starring David Jason and Paul Rogers.
Tue 27th Mar until Sat 31st Mar 1984Coventry Scouts' 1984 Gang ShowAs always, produced by Peter Mansley-Dawson.
Mon 2nd Apr until Sat 7th Apr 1984RainSomerset Maugham play starring Suzanne Danielle and William Lucas. CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREMELY LOW TICKET SALES.
Tue 10th Apr until Sat 14th Apr 1984Snow White and the Seven DwarfsStarring Jim Bowen.
Mon 23rd Apr until Sat 28th Apr 1984Dear IvorIvor Novello story and music presented by the Welsh Opera and the Nottingham Playhouse.
Sun 29th Apr 1984Doris StokesWorld famous Medium, with audience participation. One night only.
Tue 8th May 1984Freddie StarrOne night only. Warm-up act was magician/comedian Wayne Dobson.
Sat 12th May 1984Alexei SayleOne night only.
Fri 18th May 1984Little and LargeWith guests including Stu Francis. One night only.
Thu 24th May 1984Leo SayerOne night only.
Fri 25th May 1984Bucks FizzOne night only.
Sat 26th May 1984The Style CouncilOne night only. In support of CND.
Tue 29th May until Sat 2nd Jun 1984Wind In The WillowsFamily musical.
Sat 22nd Sep 1984Cliff RichardPart of his "Gospel" tour.
Fri 5th Oct 1984Foster & AllenOne night only.
Sat 13th Oct 1984The GrumbleweedsOne night only.
Fri 19th Oct 1984Elkie BrooksOne night only.
Tue 30th Oct until Sun 4th Nov 1984Educating RitaWilly Russell comedy, starring Bill Simpson and Tina Marian.
Wed 7th Nov until Sat 10th Nov 1984The NutcrackerTchaikovsky ballet, presented by the Ballet Classique de Paris.
Sat 1st Dec 1984UB40One night only. With guests Echo Base.
Mon 3rd Dec 1984Brendan ShineWith special guest star Niall Toibin.
Fri 7th Dec 1984David EssexOne night only.
Sat 15th Dec 1984Dick Whittington PremierOne off charity performance in aid of the Royal Variety Club's Sunshine Coach appeal.
Thu 20th Dec 1984 until Sat 26th Jan 1985Dick WhittingtonPantomime, starring Michael Barrymore, with Linda Nolan, the Roly Polys, Terry Hall & Lenny the Lion, and many more. (The final pantomime ever to be performed at Coventry Theatre.)

Prev year: 1983Showing 1984Next year: 1985

1884 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985



Also of interest might be A short history of Coventry's Theatres and Cinemas, by Bill Birch.

 
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