Playhouse Theatre, Manchester
Hulme Hippodrome (1902-1905) The Playhouse (M15 5EU) was originally known as the Hippodrome (named 1902-1905), was built in Hulme, Manchester and opened on 6 October 1902. The theatre and its larger conjoined Grand Junction Theatre (named 1901-1905), were part of the theatrical empire of W. H. Broadhead. The two theatres were reportedly connected by an arcade, though most other researchers dispute this. The combined building of both theatres was the Broadhead's company headquarters for their circuit of 17 theatres across the North West of England. One researcher suggests that "aqua shows" with a water stage being installed were being considered during construction in 1901 "but did not come to fruition" (p273). There are also a few community stories that the smaller theatre was built in the same year as the larger theatre and not a year later as most accounts report, and that in that first year experiments were held including with animal performances, but the only document found to date to support these stories is one potentially speculative architectural drawing showing entrances for "horses" to a circular performance area. Grand Junction Theatre (1905-1929) The theatre originally seated 1,500 and was used for variety acts, while the larger Grand Junction