In 1881 Arthur Lloyd took over the Star Music Hall in Watson Street, off Gallowgate, and renamed it the Shakespeare Music Hall. With a capacity of over 2,600, it attracted large working class audiences from the East End.
In September 1884 the Shakespeare was acquired by D S McKay of Edinburgh, and renamed the New Star Theatre of Varieties. A shadow was cast over the theatre on 1 November when a false fire alarm caused panic, resulting in a rush to the exits and a crush which left fourteen dead and eighteen injured. McKay offered to pay for the burial of the dead, and helped organise a relief fund.The New Star was subsequently renamed the Queen's Theatre.
Reference: Mitchell Library, Theatre Collection, G 792 MUS
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
disasters, music halls, New Star Theatre of Varieties, Queen's Theatre, Shakespeare Music Hall, Shakespeare Theatre, Star Music Hall, theatres, variety
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