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.

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

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...

Read More

Other Subjects

Ivor Novello

Ivor Novello

Composer, singer and actor-manager. Born David Ivor Davies in Cardiff. Wrote 'Keep the Home Fires Burning', a big success in WW1. Appeared in over 20 movies. Worked at Gainsborough Film Studios. Br...

Person, Cinema, Music / songs, Theatre, Wales

2 memorials
Dick Whittington

Dick Whittington

Born in Pauntley, Gloucestershire, second son of a wealthy man. Thrice Lord Mayor of London: 1397, 1406 and 1420 (actually four times but two were consecutive). Three times Master of the Mercers' C...

Person, Literature, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration, Theatre

8 memorials
Dodie Smith

Dodie Smith

Author and playwright, Born Lancashire. Wrote 'The Hundred and One Dalmations' and 'I Capture the Castle'.  Born Lancashire but in 1910 her mother remarried and they moved to London. Did some acti...

Person, Literature, Theatre

1 memorial
Brendan Behan

Brendan Behan

Poet, writer, playwright. Born Dublin. Irish republican and, aged 16 - 23, volunteer in the IRA. He once described himself as a "a drinker with a writing problem". Collapsed in a Dublin bar and die...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Theatre, Ireland

1 memorial
George F. J. MacLeod

George F. J. MacLeod

George Francis James MacLeod. Manager of the Hackney Empire. Born in Chorlton in 1870, and married in Leeds in 1893, a commercial traveller in Potternewton, Leeds in 1901. Source: Wikimedia.

Person, Theatre

1 memorial