Victoria Theatre, The ... is open all the year, at the following prices: boxes, 2s.; pit, 1s; gallery, 6d. Performances commence at half past 6.
The Royal Victoria Theatre, in Waterloo Road, was first opened in 181. The exterior is somewhat unattractive; the interior, the form of which is nearly circular, is admirably adapted for dramatic representation; the stage, being very extensive and capacious, is peculiarly suited to an imposing scenic display; while the audience part is constructed so as to afford a good view of the performance from every part of it. It consists of two tiers of boxes, a gallery, and pit. When first opened, it presented a very beautiful appearance, being unquestionably one of the most capacious and best built theatres in the metropolis; it is, however, at present, in a sadly dilapidated state.
Mogg's New Picture of London and Visitor's Guide to it Sights, 1844
COBURG THEATRE, WATERLOO BRIDGE ROAD, LAMBETH, (now the VICTORIA), was so called after Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, (the present King of the Belgians), who laid the first stone, by proxy, on the 14th of September, 1816. The architect's name was Signor Cabanel; and the theatre was first opened May 11th, 1818.
Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850
see also George Sala in Twice Round the Clock - click here
ROYAL
VICTORIA, Waterloo Bridge Road, was for a long ii period controlled by Mr.
Osbaldiston, and is the recognised "home of the domestic drama." The
gallery will hold 2000 persons.
Class of Performance: A peculiar species of plays,
known as domestic dramas. These are contrasted by the most outrageous
"farces," with the occasional relief of a "pantomime" and a
"wonderful dog."
Admission: Boxes, 1s. ; pit, 6d. ; gallery,
3d. Doors open at six; curtain rises at half-past six.
Cruchley's London in 1865 : A Handbook for Strangers, 1865
Everyone in the theatre seemed to be on speaking terms with each and all of the performers, and, in some instances, the latter would answer the chaff back merrily, an incessant fire of replies and counter-replies being kept up that was amusing, if not edifying. While the dancing was going on an old woman made her entrance into the box where I was sitting and asked if "I didn't want some porter or kidney pies". At the "Vic" it is the custom to eat during the performance, and drink porter or beer, which is brought by old women and boys between the acts, and sold at fourpence a bottle.
Daniel Joseph Kirwan, Palace and Hovel : Phases of London Life, 1878
THE VICTORIA THEATRE - The well-known building at the junction of the two great South London thoroughfares, the Waterloo-road and the New Cut, called the Victoria Theatre, has now been so far altered to suit the joint requirements of a coffee music-hall and a coffee tavern that it will be opened at Christmas as the Royal Victoria Coffee Music-hall . . . the first music-hall opened in connexion with the great temperance movement.
The Times, December 8, 1880
What was until recently the Victoria Palace Theatre - or, in popular parlance, "the Vic" - is now the Royal Victoria Music Hall and Coffee Tavern, conducted upon Temperance principles, with capacity for 2000 persons. It is situated in Waterloo Road, Lambeth.
Herbert Fry, London, 1889 [this is a guidebook, ed.]