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The Theatre Royal: (York) ~
St Leonard's Place
York
According to Christina Hole, a renowned folk-lore expert, in her book, 'Haunted England'.
The sound of organ music has been heard coming from the theatre at 2.20 one morning in the 1930`s. The melody was repeated about an hour later but never heard again.
Tradition also has it that one of the nuns that served the hospital as a nurse was walled up alive in a tiny cell behind a dressing room, near the dress circle.
The structure of the Georgian Theatre Royal incorporates parts of the old Hospital of St. Leonard which, in the Middle Ages, established at the time of King Stephen in the twelfth century. Some parts of the theatre are actually sectors of the original crypt.
Run by a strict order of nuns, one of these ladies, it is said, fell in love with a young nobleman. Unfortunately, the lovers were discovered. For breaking her vow of chastity, the nun was thrown into a windowless room which was immediately bricked up to form the girl's living tomb!
John Mitchell, author of 'Ghosts of an Ancient City' states that many occupants of the dressing room have mentioned the strange but intense feeling of being watched. Actress, Marjorie Rowland, when standing at the back of the dress circle saw a figure ` Dressed in a grey robe with a white cuff, leaning over the edge of the stage box`. This description is that of a novice nun.
In 1965 the 'Daily Sketch' published a letter from Harry Bennett who while playing at the theatre, was given permission to `try and lay the ghost`. `Several of us occupied the dressing room` he says ` and soon we heard footsteps. The atmosphere became eerie and cold. Then, to our astonishment. the figure of a tall woman appeared, hooded and in a grey gown. She entered the room through the closed door and as one of the company screamed the main lights were put on. With that the apparition vanished.
A group of people who were members of the cast of 'Dear Octopus', saw the nun in 1975. At one point in the play, they noticed a light developing slowly in the circle. As they watched it increased in brilliance and took the appearance of the head and shoulders of a woman, surrounded by `some form of hood or cowl`. A few seconds later the phantom slowly faded away, After a few minutes discussion, the cast resumed their rehearsals.
The old building is also the home of an actor who died during a duel and returned to haunt his favourite theatre. In a vain effort to recapture the success of his acting days, he is sometimes seen standing backstage or in the wings observing the performances.
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