fɚbˈɪdən tə pɚfˈɔːɹm plˈeɪz dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi tˈɜːmz, ðə lˈɛsiː ʌvðə θˈiəɾɚ ɹᵻzˈɔːɹɾᵻd tə pɹɪzˈɛntɪŋ kˈɑːnsɚts ɔːɹ mjˈuːzɪk hˈɔːl ˌɛntɚtˈeɪnmənts ænd baɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ðə θˈiəɾɚ hæd bɪkˌʌm kwˈaɪt ɹˈʌn dˈaʊn.
Forbidden to perform plays during the University terms, the lessee of the theatre resorted to presenting 'concerts' or music hall entertainments and by 1880 the theatre had become quite run down.