Until 1918 the theatre was a hotel called The Market Inn, The two brothers that changed the hotel into the theatre were called John and James Simpkin and there offices were located on the first floor by the circle. John and James built the theatre together but James decided he would only place only one set of initials above the stage and engraved JS rather than J&JS as his brother wanted him to do so they could both be acknowledged. James thought the JS would refer to both of them. John died before any changes could be made and although James had promised he would add another J, he never did it before John died. John can be seen coming from his office and walking round the circle, stopping half way and looking up to see if the initials have been changed before walking round to the opposite side of the circle.
----------------- The prompt corner beside the stage in the Theatre Royal in Winchester used to be where the spotlight operator would sit during performances. Just after the first world war, the Theatre Royal in Winchester was reopened after being a hotel around 1914. One of the first shows was a musical featuring dancing girls. During the musical, one of the dancing girls was dating one of the spotlight operators. He was called away to action during World War One and was nowhere near Winchester at the time of the show. The dancing girl was on stage one night when she fainted, the manager then of the theatre James Simpkin came up to her after the show to ask if she was all right and she said she had seen her boyfriend in the prompt corner. That very same day the spotlight operators mother had received a telegram to say her son had died during service. Not only can the spotlight operator still be seen today, but so can the dancing girl looking for her beloved. --------- Watch the video as Davina
Burgess describes the hauntings. | 
