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____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, London, W.C.2
Above - The Aldwych Theatre whilst in production for the musical 'Dirty Dancing' in October 2006.
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The ERA said on its opening: 'Mr
Sprague has not only introduced
into his architectural scheme the latest improvements in theatre construction,
but has also made certain departures which are all in the right direction.
The decorations are in the Georgian style and the general appearance
of the interior of the building is pleasing in the extreme. Handsome
and ornate it certainly is, but the words that correctly describe the
impression conveyed by a first glance round, are cosy and comfortable.
The prevailing scheme in crimson, cream and gold and the contrast with
Rose du Barri draperies and upholstery is striking and artistically
Above Left - The Aldwych Theatre - From a period postcard. The Theatre was built as part of the Aldwych reconstruction which began at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Four theatres were demolished when London's Aldwych, named after the Old Wych Street, was constructed. This vast operation began in the last years of the nineteenth century and was not finally completed until after the First World War. The Olympic Theatre in Wych Street and the Opera Comique in the Strand were closed in 1899, the Globe Theatre in Newcastle Street shut its doors in 1902. This was followed by the closure of the Gaiety Theatre in the Strand in June of the same year. Above Right - Programme for 'Three Sisters' at the Aldwych Theatre which opened on Thursday 3rd May 1951. |
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Right - The Aldwych Theatre, Waldorf Hotel, and the Waldorf Theatre complex in 1912 - From a period postcard. The Aldwych Theatre was part of a vast new building consisting of the Aldwych Theatre itself, The new Waldorf Hotel in the center, and at the far end, The Waldorf Theatre, now the Novello Theatre. Both Theatres were designed by W. G. R. Sprague and given identical exteriors. |
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Above - The Waldorf Hotel with the Waldorf (now Novello) Theatre (left) and the Aldwych Theatre (right) c.1906. The corner of the Gaiety Theatre may just be seen at the extreme left foreground. Opposite the Waldorf Theatre, on Catherine Street is the 'unique site' which because of an Ancient Lights ruling remained vacant until 1925 when the Duchess Theatre was built on part of it. On the horizon, behind the Aldwych Theatre may be glimpsed some of the roof of Drury Lane Theatre. Bedford Lemere took the photograph from the rear of the site now occupied by India House. To his right would have been the sites of two recently demolished theatres, The Globe (1868 - 1902) and the Opera Comique (1870 - 1899). Text and image from 'Theatrephile' Volume 2 No.6 Spring 1985. |
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Above - The newly built Aldwych in the early 1900s showing the Gaiety Theatre on the right, and on the far left, the Waldorf Theatre, now Novello, the Waldorf Hotel and the Aldwych Theatre. |
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Above - Programme for "Watch On The Rhine" which opened
at the Aldwych Theatre |
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Above - The Aldwych Theatre whilst in production for the musical 'Dirty Dancing' in October 2006 - Photo M.L. The picture also shows the rear of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane beyond the scaffolding on the left up Drury Lane itself. In 2006 The Aldwych Theatre is owned by the American, James Nederlander, and operated by Michael Codron Plays whose own Website can be found here. This includes an interesting page on the history of the Aldwych Theatre. The Aldwych is currently in production for the stage musical version of the highly successful film 'Dirty Dancing' which opens at the Theatre on the 24th October 2006. |
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Adelphi Aldwych Apollo Apollo Victoria Arts Cambridge Comedy Criterion Dominion Drury Lane Duchess Duke Of Yorks Fortune Garrick Gielgud Haymarket Her Majesty's London Coliseum London Palladium Lyceum Lyric New Ambassadors New London Noel Coward / Albery Novello Old Vic Palace Peacock Phoenix Piccadilly Playhouse Prince Edward Prince of Wales Queen's Royal Opera House Savoy Shaftesbury St. Martin's Trafalgar Studios / Whitehall Vaudeville Victoria Palace Wyndham's
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