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The Astoria Theatre was built by Edward A.Stone and was a conversion from a former Pickle Warehouse. The Theatre was built in 1927 with a large auditorium capable of seating 2,000 in some comfort. For an image of the auditorium in its heyday click here.

It is sometimes stated that Frank Verity may have built the Astoria but although he was the Chief Architect for Paramount Cinemas who eventually owned all five of the London Astorias, Paramount did not take over until 1931, which was after they were all built.

Right - Programme for the film 'Alf's Button' shown at the Astoria Theatre March 24th 1930, just a few years after the Theatre Opened.

The Theatre was very successful for many years but in 1976 the strangest thing happened to the building. In the 50s and 60s Theatres all over the country were being converted into Cinemas, but in 1976 the Astoria, which was built as a Cinema, closed for business and was converted into a Theatre for live productions, ironically at exactly the same time as the former Carlton Theatre on the Haymarket was being converted into a Cinema.

The first production at the new Astoria Theatre was 'Elvis the Musical' with P.J. Proby and Shankin Stevens in the cast but this was not overly successful, then came 'Lennon' in 1985 but before long the Theatre had been taken over and converted into a Music Venue by removing the seats in the stalls, converting the stage into a dance floor, adding a bar to the rear stalls, and converting the circle to nightclub style seating with tables and more bars.

Left - Programme detail for the film 'Alf's Button' shown at the Astoria Theatre March 24th 1930, just a few years after the Theatre Opened.

Right - Programme detail with information for the film 'Sporting Life' shown at the Astoria Theatre March 30th 1930, just a few years after the Theatre Opened.

The Astoria has been staging concerts and been home to the nightclub, GAY, at weekends ever since but has become very run down over the years. Despite a coat of paint recently on the exterior the Theatre looks like it is in serious decline and there is worse to come for this prominent building on Charing Cross Road.

Left - Programme for 'Lennon' at the Astoria Theatre in 1985.

The Astoria is currently under threat of demolition as the site is required as part of the construction of a new crossrail station. Westminster Council have proposed that a new Theatre will be built as a replacement. If you are concerned about this or would like furthur information, or would like to become involved in some way please contact The Save London's Theatres Campaign.

‘Smelly’ Astoria makes way for Crossrail - From the Times of March 14th 2008.

To see the plans for the crossrail development of the Astoria Theatre site click here...

The above information on the architect of the Astoria Theatre was kindly sent in, after careful research, by Andrea Beeson.