Plaque

St James's Theatre - SWET

Inscription

Theatreland - heart of the performing arts in London.
St James's Theatre
On this site stood the St James's Theatre, demolished in 1957 despite an epic campaign of protest led by Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier. George Alexander, manager from 1890 - 1918, staged both Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" for the first time.
A joint venture by the City of Westminster and the Society of West End Theatre.

Site: St James's Theatre (3 memorials)

SW1, King Street, 23-24

The passageway between the pub and the modern building houses the SWET plaque and the Olivier relief. The other 3 reliefs are at the far end of the passageway.

We believe the reliefs used to adorn the balconies of the first building to replace the theatre, now demolished.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Subjects commemorated i

St James's Theatre

FineArtAmerica have a photo.

Read More

Sir George Alexander

Actor-manager. Ran the St James's Theatre from about 1891 until his death in ...

Read More

Vivien Leigh

Born Darjeeling, India.  She and her husband Laurence Olivier, managed the St...

Read More

Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier

Born Dorking, Surrey, as Laurence Kerr Olivier. With his wife Vivien Leigh, h...

Read More

Oscar Wilde

Born in Dublin as Oscar Fingal O'Flaherty Wills Wilde. 'Importance of Being E...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Created by i

Society of West End Theatre/London Theatre

1908 Formed as West End Theatre Managers. 1976 By now it is called Society o...

Read More

Westminster City Council

The ancient parish of St Margaret's was divided into St Margaret's and St Joh...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Also at this site i

St James's Theatre - 3 reliefs

St James's Theatre - 3 reliefs

The four bas-relief panels by Edward Bainbridge Copnall depict the heads of G...

Read More

St James's Theatre - Olivier relief

St James's Theatre - Olivier relief

We choose this as our featured memorial in March 2007 since this year sees th...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Norwood Junction subway - Station Road

Norwood Junction subway - Station Road

SE25, Station Road

In our photo the subway plaque can be seen above the entrance to the tunnel. The Stanley sign is above the 'public footpath' sign at the ...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Sir Leonard Woolley

Sir Leonard Woolley

E5, Southwold Road, Former number 13

The plaque can be seen in our photo, at the top of the wall, above the black car. The house was lost in 1959/60 when the bridge was raise...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Charles Wheeler

Charles Wheeler

SW3, Old Church Street, 49

The white stone below the plaque is inscribed 'Hereford Buildings 1878'.

1 subject commemorated
Gus Elen

Gus Elen

SW12, Thurleigh Avenue, 3

Greater London Council Gus Elen 1862 - 1940, music hall comedian, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Portuguese Embassy

Portuguese Embassy

W1, Golden Square, 23-4

Behind these houses is a church which was first built as a Catholic chapel to serve this Embassy.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator