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

Donald Swann

Donald Swann

Composer, pianist and entertainer. Born Donald Ibrahim Swann at 27 Coleshill Terrace, Llanelli, Wales. His mother was a Muslim Azerbaijani. He is best remembered for his partnership with Michael Fl...

Person, Music / songs, Theatre, Wales

2 memorials
Adelaide Stoll

Adelaide Stoll

Businesswoman. Mother of impresario Oswald Stoll. After the death of her first husband, she travelled from Australia to Britain with her son. She married again to John Stoll and eventually took ove...

Person, Theatre, Australia

1 memorial
Nell Gwynne

Nell Gwynne

Eleanor Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwynne, whatever.  Born Hereford. Rumoured to have lived at Lauderdale House as the mistress of Charles II, where she dangled her first-born from a window to scare the King int...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous, Theatre

4 memorials
Richard D'Oyly Carte

Richard D'Oyly Carte

Theatre impresario. Born Greek Street. Suggested that Sullivan should work on Gilbert's "Trial by Jury" and staged the first performance in 1875. In 1879 D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company was formed and...

Person, Commerce, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, Theatre

5 memorials
Garrick Theatre

Garrick Theatre

Built for W S Gilbert in 1889, the Garrick Theatre has continued to thrive largely on a mixed diet of comedy, comedy-drama and farce. The theatre is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of actor mana...

Building, Paranormal, Theatre

1 memorial