Group    From 1806 

Adelphi Theatre

Categories: Theatre

Founded as the Sans Parail by John Scott, and his daughter Jane, who was an early playwright-actor-manager. 1819 it re-opened as the Adelphi Theatre, named for the Adelphi development opposite. 1858 the theatre was rebuilt. In 1879 the Gatti brothers took it over and also, 1887, created the Adelphi Theatre Restaurant next door, to the west. 1897 one of the regular performers, William Terriss, was murdered as he entered the theatre by the Maiden Lane entrance. 1901 the theatre was rebuilt to designs of Ernest Runtz and for three years known as the Century Theatre. The theatre was rebuilt again in the 1930s and in this design the theatre, the facade at least, took over one bay of the restaurant. This is the building we see today, although the facade is now even flatter than it was in the 30s. Our picture, from the the magnificent Arthur Lloyd, shows the 1858 building.

The Gatti's set up a electricity suppy for another nearby restaurant and also used it in 1885 to provide lighting to this theatre, making the Adelphi the first London theatre to be lit with electric light, according to the ODNB.  But the Savoy Theatre, claims this crown in 1881.

The Theatres Trust have a detailed description of the various changes the theatre has been through.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Adelphi Theatre

Creations i

Terriss

City of Westminster William Terriss, 1847 - 1897, hero of the Adelphi melodr...

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Other Subjects

St Bride Foundation Institute

St Bride Foundation Institute

Established to meet the educational, cultural and social needs of a community working within the burgeoning print industry of the Victorian era.  The Londonphile has visited and photographed the in...

Group, Journalism / Publishing, Museums / Libraries, Theatre

1 memorial
Stanley Halls

Stanley Halls

Venue for concerts, plays and lectures, designed by, funded by, and named for W. F. R. Stanley.

Place, Theatre

1 memorial
Mrs Bateman

Mrs Bateman

We initially identified the Mrs Bateman on the mural as the wife of Sidney Frances Bateman, theatre manager, initially at the Lyceum Theatre with her husband but on his death she carried on alone f...

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Sophie Fedorovitch

Sophie Fedorovitch

Russian-born theatrical designer who worked with ballet choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton from his first choreographed ballet in 1926 until her accidental death in 1953. Fedorovitch designed for s...

Person, Art, Craft / Design, Dance, Theatre, Tragedy, Russia

1 memorial
Victoria Palace Theatre

Victoria Palace Theatre

The first theatre on this site was built in 1832. The current one, designed by Frank Matcham, was erected in 1910. Our Picture source link no longer works and the current history page for the Vict...

Building, Theatre

2 memorials