New Theatre Royal New Theatre Royal The New Theatre Royal is a Victorian Grade II* listed theatre in the heart of Portsmouth, England, with a capacity of 667. The theatre building was constructed in 1854 as Landport Hall. It was converted to a theatre two years later. It was rebuilt in 1884 by Charles J. Phipps and again in 1900 by Frank Matcham. The Theatre reopened in October 2015 after a £4.7M refurbishment project. The present site was built to replace a theatre located in the High Street (now designated "old Portsmouth". The theatre features in Charles Dickens' novel "Nicholas Nickleby". A popular
Billy Smith (English footballer, born 1906) Billy Smith (English footballer, born 1906) William Henry Smith (9 June 1906 – 1963) was an English footballer who played as a full-back in the Football League for South Shields, Portsmouth and Stockport County. Smith, who played in either full-back position, spend the majority of his career at Portsmouth, having previously played League football for South Shields. He played in the 1934 FA Cup Final side that lost to Manchester City in April 1934. After leaving Portsmouth in 1937, he joined Stockport County, where he played 36 times in four seasons (although his two appearances in 1939–40 were subsequently struck