Royal Aquarium theatre programme - Rolf Harris Show, 1967

Gt Yarmouth Museums

Royalty (Royal Aquarium) theatre programme - Michael Barrymore - probably 1980's

Gt Yarmouth Museums

Covers of Royal Aquarium theatre programmes

By John Layton

The Royal Aquarium (later the Royalty, now the Hollywood Cinema Multiplex) was originally, as its title suggests, an aquarium.

When it was converted into a theatre, then a Cinema, there were curtains hung down the sides of the auditorium, behind which were the tanks which originally held the fish.

The theatre had the largest cinema screen in town, and was the only one in Norfolk, apart from Norwich, that could show the Sound of Music.

There was also a smaller, 'Little Theatre' behind the main cinema, which housed the local repertory company.  This later became the 'Little Cinema', then part of the Hollywood Multiplex.

During the latter half of the 20th Century it also produced summer shows, as can be seen here.