We begin our tour with one of Castleford’s two professional theatre buildings, the Queens Theatre, which began life as Queens Hall in 1899.

It was used for Concerts, Lectures, Demonstration, Balls etc. In 1904 the lease changed and the building became known as the Hippodrome, and then in 1909 as the Queen’s Theatre. At this time theatrical entertainment was extremely popular with the public and the building was expanded and refitted. The Theatre could seat 1,700, had 5 dressing rooms and a stage measuring 23 x 49 Feet.

The advent of moving pictures eventually saw a shift in interest and by the late 1920’s the venue again underwent a change and the Queen’s Cinema came into being seating 980 viewers. Sadly in 1959 this also came to an end, when the theatre closed for good.