This image dated 1833 is taken from plate 22 from Views of Calcutta, an album of paintings by William Wood.
It shows an imposing theatre on the corner of Theatre Street and Lower Chowringhee Road. The Private Subscription Theatre, more commonly known as the Chowringhee Theatre, was an historic theatre in Calcutta in India, founded in 1813 and closed in 1839. A number of short-lived theatres had been founded in the city since the Calcutta Theatre, but the Chowringhee Theatre was to be the first permanent professional public theatre. It was built on funds by private donations on subscriptions by shares of Rs100 each. It was able to accommodate 300 people and was thereby the most spacious theatre in Calcutta at the time. It was protected by the governor-general and became one of the leading theatres in Calcutta and India. Reviews of performances at the theatre were regularly published in the press. A star attraction was the hugely popular actor Esther Leach.
It was inaugurated on November 25, 1813 and the maiden play held here was a tragedy named ‘Castle Spectre.’ In 1835, Prince Dwarakanath Thakur purchased it and made some drastic renovations. Unfortunately, in May 1839, the building was destroyed by fire in May 1839 and replaced by the Sans Souci Theatre.
It shows an imposing theatre on the corner of Theatre Street and Lower Chowringhee Road. The Private Subscription Theatre, more commonly known as the Chowringhee Theatre, was an historic theatre in Calcutta in India, founded in 1813 and closed in 1839. A number of short-lived theatres had been founded in the city since the Calcutta Theatre, but the Chowringhee Theatre was to be the first permanent professional public theatre. It was built on funds by private donations on subscriptions by shares of Rs100 each. It was able to accommodate 300 people and was thereby the most spacious theatre in Calcutta at the time. It was protected by the governor-general and became one of the leading theatres in Calcutta and India. Reviews of performances at the theatre were regularly published in the press. A star attraction was the hugely popular actor Esther Leach.
It was inaugurated on November 25, 1813 and the maiden play held here was a tragedy named ‘Castle Spectre.’ In 1835, Prince Dwarakanath Thakur purchased it and made some drastic renovations. Unfortunately, in May 1839, the building was destroyed by fire in May 1839 and replaced by the Sans Souci Theatre.