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

Gilbert Miller

Gilbert Miller

American impresario. Owned the St James's Theatre from 1943 to its demise in 1957.

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Ruthie Henshall

Ruthie Henshall

Actor, dancer and singer. Born in Bromley as Valentine Ruth Henshall. She has appeared in many west end productions, including 'Cats', 'Chicago' and 'Les Miserables'. Nominated five times for an Ol...

Person, Dance, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
William Wycherley

William Wycherley

Playwright. No birth information but baptised in 1641 in Hampshire. Wrote The Country Wife and The Plain Dealer. Died in Bow Street.

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Sir Cecil Beaton

Sir Cecil Beaton

Photographer, painter, interior designer and designer for stage and screen. Born 21 Langland Gardens, Hampstead. Excelling in a number of art forms he had equally catholic tastes in his affairs, wi...

Person, Cinema, Craft / Design, Photography, Seriously Famous, Theatre

3 memorials
Sir Gerald du Maurier

Sir Gerald du Maurier

Actor-manager. Born at 27 Church Row, the last and fifth child of George du Maurier. As a child he would pose for his father's drawings. A close associate of J M Barrie he was the first actor to pl...

Person, Theatre

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Fletcher Hancock

Fletcher Hancock

Pilot Officer, 133 Eagle Squadron, American, killed.

Person, USA

War dead, WW2
1 memorial