Back by popular demand! David Astbury (former Vic Soc Manchester Chair) will lead a repeat walk on the Theatres of Oxford Street and Peter Street, a walk of about two hours passing through what was once the heart of Manchester’s historic theatre district.
Commencing at the Palace Theatre the walk will go to the Free Trade Hall passing along Oxford Street to St Peter’s Square and Peter Street with an option to continues to the Opera House if time allows.
Within a relatively short distance, theatres including the Palace, Hippodrome, Prince’s, Theatre Royal, Gaiety, and Midland Hotel had all been erected before 1914. By 1939 a number had been converted into cinemas including the Gaumont and Theatre Royal while new builds included the Odeon and News Theatre. Also included along the route are the Gentlemen’s Concert Hall in St Peter’s Square, and the Free Trade Hall in Peter Street.