| Title | Theatre Royal (Peeps) |
| Date | 1912 |
| Location | Yeadon |
| Photo ID | A040 |
| Comment | This production of Aladdin was given at the Theatre Royal Yeadon, known locally as the “Peeps”. Mr Harrison was a keen amateur actor, appearing as the lead in many local productions. He worked as an insurance collector for the Prudential Insurance Company. In this image he is wearing a fashionable dress, feathered hat and lace mittens, he has a toy dog tucked under his left arm. |
A157 – ‘Peeps’, 1912.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Aladdin 1912
Hartley Harrison plays Widow Twankey in a production of Aladdin presented at the Theatre Royal (Peeps), Yeadon. He appeared in many local amateur productions.
K08 – ‘Peeps’, 1912.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Aladdin 1912
Posing with fans are a group of girls who were in the cast of Aladdin.
F104 – ‘Peeps’, 1912.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Aladdin 1912
Two girls who performed as a specialty act in the pantomime which took place at the Theatre Royal (Peeps).
J47 – ‘Peeps’, 1912.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Aladdin 1912
Seen here in costume are Hilda Dennison and Margaret Bailey.
K01 – ‘Peeps’, 1912.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Aladdin 1912
Girls who performed in the pantomime chorus.
K02 – ‘Peeps’, 1912.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Aladdin 1912
Six girls in costume who were taking part in the pantomime.
B260 – ‘Peeps’, 1913.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Sinbad 1913
Yeadon Amateur Dramatic Society production of Sinbad, performed at the Theatre Royal (Peeps).
The two characters portrayed were ‘Salt and Brine’ played by Dick Lupton and Tilly Windus.
H24 – ‘Peeps’, 1913.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Sinbad 1913
Back row left to right:
Kathleen Lupton, Emily Bailey, Ethel Parker, Ivy Bailey, Alice Jackson.
Front row left to right:
Dolly Waterhouse, Evelyn Bailey, Lena Dennison, Ethel Ives, Ida Webster and Rosie Myers.
I032 – ‘Peeps’, 1913.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Sinbad 1913
A girl who was playing the part of a fairy in a production of Sinbad.
H18 – ‘Peeps’, 1913.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Sinbad 1913
Two of the young stars of the show Evelyn Bailey and Dolly Waterhouse.
I859 – ‘Peeps’, 1913.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Sinbad 1913
Two of the pantomime characters Allah & Lulu, who appeared in Sinbad, staged in the Theatre Royal locally known as the “Peeps”.
X115 – ‘Peeps’, 1913.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Sinbad 1913
This is Archie Ives who had a speciality act in the show.
K10 – ‘Peeps’, 1913.
Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Sinbad 1913
This scene from the pantomime was called ‘A Beautiful Doll’.
The girl on the left is Evelyn Bailey, the ‘Doll’ in the box is Dolly Waterhouse.
D259 – ‘Peeps’, 1876 – 1915.
The end of an era for the Theatre Royal ‘Peeps’ – Undated
A newspaper cutting about the demolition of the Theatre Royal (Peeps).
The wooden building survived as a theatre until 1915, when the Council refused a license for public performance as the balcony was declared unsafe. The theatre was subsequently used as a Drill Hall for volunteers during the 1914-18 war.
The ‘Peeps’ was auctioned and was bought by a Mr Wade of Apperley Lane, Rawdon, and then resold to Mr George Tomas ‘Tinner’ Harrison of Yeadon. ‘Tinner’ had come to Yeadon from Horsforth in the early 1900s, he manufactured all types of tin ware including pans and dark room lamps for photographers.
He changed the ‘Peeps’ into a covered market with stalls, selling vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, cloth, clothing and sweets. His son Clifford ran an ironmongery stall.
‘Tinner’ used the dressing rooms as his offices and works.
One of the stallholders was Norman Warren, who sold fruit and vegetables, he bought the ‘Peeps’ from the Harrison’s around 1940, and it was later destroyed by a fire and was ultimately demolished in 1957.
‘Tinner’ and his family lived in what was known as the Bacon Factory on Yeadon High Street, it is thought when he acquired the property it was a bacon processor’s and a house. Later they moved to the Haw. There were 8 children, Edward, Harold (played cricket for Yorkshire as a bowler), Arthur, Clifford (he followed his father into the tinning business), George, Frances, Kate and Hilda.
The home on the Haw Street came with land and fields, ‘Tinner’ was also a local Methodist lay preacher, he is buried in Yeadon Cemetery.
Clifford Harrison carried on his father’s business after the ‘Peeps’ market was sold, he had a shop on Albert Square and manufactured goods by hand at a workshop what was the Commercial Hotel (now the Tarn) at the top of Henshaw lane.
When professional shows were being performed in the Theatre Royal (Peeps), the original YADS seemed to disappear but in 1930, the group was reformed and still perform excellent shows in Yeadon Town Hall and now called the Yeadon Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (YAODS).
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 25 November 2020.
Last updated: 22 August 2023 – Photo ID: A157, H18, I859 & H115. 28 July 2023 – Photo ID: A040. 20 January 2023 – All images updated.
