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Since its opening in 1911, the #VictoriaPalaceTheatre continues to earn international recognition for its architectural brilliance. Recent #Awards date back to 2019 with 3 grand trophies: #ArchitectureMasterPrizeforRestoration, #RICSAwards for Tourism & Leisure, Silver at the #IDAAwards, with another win in 2018: Certificate of Excellence at #A&DTrophyAwards. #WestEnd
In Source: #VictoriaPalaceTheatre
On top of the #VictoriaPalaceTheatre shines the statue of #AnnaPavlova. Installed in 1911, lost during WW2 & then recreated in 2006 by Architect #HarryFranchetti. The replica captures patron #AlfredButt’s appreciation for the genius of the Russian #PrimaBallerina. Although we admire the replica, Pavlova refused to look at the original – allegedly out of superstition. #WestEnd
In Source: #VictoriaPalaceTheatre
Beyond its poised facade, the #VictoriaPalaceTheatre hides a rare & opulent #ArtNouveau interior. #FrankMatcham’s design greets audiences with a beautiful marble foyer. Lavish ornamentation, plush red seating & intricate plasterwork chased with gilded curves, immerse audiences in an #Edwardian #Baroque aesthetic - one of the #WestEnd’s most eclectic theatrical experiences.
In Source: #VictoriaPalaceTheatre
The last #WestEnd theatre by the prolific & legendary #TheatreArchitect #FrankMatcham, the #VictoriaPalaceTheatre mixes luxury & innovative design to create a captivating atmosphere. Matcham’s pioneering cantilevered balconies offer clear sightlines throughout—a rarity for Edwardian theatres. One of his few surviving works, it stands alongside gems: #LondonPalladium & #Coliseum
In Source: #VictoriaPalaceTheatre
Despite its optimistic flair, the #VictoriaPalaceTheatre has seen tough times. It is one of the rare #WestEnd playhouses to survive both World Wars without significant damage, remarkably escaping Luftwaffe WW2 attacks. While much of London was reduced to burning ruins during the #Blitz, the #VictoriaPalaceTheatre stood proud, becoming an inspiring symbol of resilience & hope.
In Source: #VictoriaPalaceTheatre
English theatre producer #CameronMackintosh purchased the #VictoriaPalaceTheatre in 2014 whilst the musical #BillyElliot was running. The show closed in 2016 to make way for a multi-million-pound restoration, to expand the stage & refine Matcham’s original design. The #WestEnd #Theatre was reborn in 2017 with the arrival of the groundbreaking multi-award winning hit #Hamilton.
In Source: #VictoriaPalaceTheatre
#Theatre Unique in the way it presents World War One to audiences, #TunnelTrench is a #Play written by #HubertGriffith in 1923. A drama critic for the #Observer, Griffith had personal experience of #WW1 & the military he featured, presenting new insights into the manner it was fought. Opened at the #DuchessTheatre in 1929 & #ITV play of the week in 1963 #WestEnd
In Source: Tunnel Trench
#Saved is a #Play by #EdwardBond that premiered at the #RoyalCourtTheatre. Set in 60’s #London it’s a story of a frustrated generation growing up in cultural poverty on council estates. #LordChamberlain refused a #LegitimateDrama license unless censored & when performed, all were prosecuted. The legal case backfired & was pivotal to the abolition of #Theatre censorship #WestEnd
In Source: Saved
#LegitimateDrama dates back to the defunct English Licensing Act of 1737 that restricted performances of serious “spoken drama” to 2 licensed patent theatres. To control what was said about the British government a Legitimate #Theatre could be easily censored, whilst illegitimate theatres would show only lighter formats: #MusicHall #Pantomime #Burlesque or #Melodrama #WestEnd
In Source: Legitimate Drama
Explore #StrandAldwych & discover digital stories of people & events from the past, written into statues listed buildings and #WestEnd theatres. #hexology has posted #Heritage content into physical locations for people to discover, & also to participate in the construction of the New Strand Aldwych in #Westminster celebrating the wealth of #History & #Culture available #London
In Source: Darrel Butlin
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Oldest #London #Theatre in use #TheatreRoyal #DruryLane is the latest #Playhouse of 4 on the site. For 200 yrs, since 1663, monopoly rights were granted to stage #LegitimateDrama. Fire in 1672 forced a new build & in 1794 a bigger complex built. A 2nd fire 1809 led to the #Venue standing today #WestEnd #StrandAldwych What’s on: lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane
In Source: Drury Lane
1765, the 1st #LyceumTheatre built for Exhibitions of The Society of Artists flopped. Under lease it hosted #MadameTussauds & a #Mozart première. Destroyed by fire, the present #Theatre opened in 1834 to champion English Opera & failed, a lucrative run of melodrama followed. Rebuilt 1904 in the #Rococo style #WestEnd #StrandAldwych What’s on: atgtickets.com/venues/lyceum-theatr
In Source: Lyceum Theatre
One of the smallest, the #DuchessTheatre in the #WestEnd is built with the stalls below street level. Opened in 1929 with #TunnelTrench a play starring #EmlynWilliams, the original interior was #ArtDeco in style; two bas-reliefs in the auditorium flanking the proscenium arch are the only original features to survive. #StrandAldwych #London What’s on: theduchesstheatre.co.uk
In Source: Duchess Theatre
Built as one of a pair with the #AldwychTheatre on either side of the #TheWaldorf #Hilton the Novello opened in 1905. Renamed the Strand #Theatre in 1909, the Whitney Theatre in 1911, & again the Strand Theatre in 1913, before the Novello in 2005, in honour of the actor #IvorNovello who lived above. #WestEnd #StrandAldwych #London What’s on: novellotheatrelondon.info
In Source: Novello Theatre
Opened in 1905, the #AldwychTheatre was built in the #Edwardian #Baroque style as a pair with the Waldorf #Theatre, now known as the #NovelloTheatre. Home to the #RoyalShakespeareCompany between 1960 & 1982, #LaurenceOlivier directed the 1st London production of A Streetcar Named Desire here. #WestEnd #StrandAldwych #London What’s on: nederlander.co.uk/aldwych-theatre
In Source: Aldwych Theatre
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