The Duchess Theatre, Catherine Street, London, WC2
Above - The Duchess Theatre during the run of 'The Play That Goes Wrong' in February 2015 - Photo M.L.
The
Duchess Theatre opened on the 25th of November 1929 with the play 'Tunnel
Trench' by Hubert Griffith. The site the Theatre was built on was a
WW1 Zeppelin-raid bomb site owned by Mabel Ainsworth until about 1927,
and then latterly by Willy Clarkson,
and had been vacant for many years due to the 'Ancient Lights' rule
which prevented new buildings blocking the light of buildings close
by.
The Theatre was designed by Ewen Barr who overcame the 'Ancient Lights' problem by designing his new Theatre with the upper storeys set back and the rest of the building low to the ground, much of it, including the stage and stalls, below ground level. The front of the circle is consequently at street level.
This
design has proved problematic for the Theatre ever since as ground water
has to be permanently pumped out of the basement by several dedicated
pumps, rather like the bilge pumps on a boat.
The Duchess Theatre was constructed by F. G. Minter Ltd.
in a 'ModernTudor Gothic' style and the auditorium was built on two
different size levels, the Circle being narrower than the Stalls. This
small playhouse has a capacity of only 479 and the sight-lines are excellent
due to the Circle being suspended from the roof. The Theatre has concealed
lighting throughout.
A short report on the 'House Warming' of the new Duchess Theatre was published in the ERA on November the 27th 1929 saying:- ' Jack de Leon's house-warming at the Duchess was a successful and jolly affair and largely attended by actors, managers and all sorts of other people connected with the stage. The Rance of Sarawak was, I believe, the official hostess and, personally, I was received by Tom Kealy, who was full of news, as usual. The theatre is the most beautiful of the smaller houses in London and I admired particularly the softly tinted backgrounds and the concealed lighting. An outstanding feature are the inset sculptured panels on either side of the circle. The stage is small and the projection at the back, owing to the smallness of the site, will prove a hindrance to the producer. Dressing-rooms and arrangements behind-stage are admirable.
The Duchess is built on two levels and there are fewer steps to the seats than in any theatres in London. It it certainly well planned - when one remembers the narrow, winding passages and flights of stairs before reaching one's seat in some theatres. The seating capacity is nearly 500 - to be exact 499 - and at the prices charged for the opening play, "Tunnel Trench" the house will hold about £300 a performance. Griffiths' play deserves to take that amount for many months to come.
Catherine-street is not a good address for, although "The Era" office is within a stone's throw of the Duchess, I did not know the name of the street until a month or two ago. Actually, the theatre is a minute from the Gaiety corner in the Strand, the same distance from Drury Lane Theatre, and nearly opposite the entrance to the Strand Theatre.
The facade of the Duchess is a charming addition to London's buildings. It is modern Gothic, and the three projecting bays with enamelled panels under the windows are particularly pleasing to the eye. The theatre is built on a site, belonging to Willie Clarkson, that has been vacant - except for a coffee stall - for over twenty years.' - The ERA November 27th 1929.
The images above show the concealed lighting in the stalls and stairways, and other views of the interior of the Duchess Theatre in the 1990s. - Photos M.L.
Above - The Duchess Theatre during the run of 'Glorious Morning' in the 1930s - From the 1932-1938 Souvenir Brochure for the Theatre - Courtesy Martin Clark and Doreen Gould.
In 1938 a Souvenir Brochure was produced for the Duchess Theatre celebrating the years between 1932 and 1938 when the Theatre was managed by J. P. Mitchelhill, with details of the shows produced there during this period and some very nice photographs of the Theatre. I have included Mitchehill's text and some of the photos below:-
Right - J. P. Mitchelhill and Duchess Theatre Productions from 1932-1938 - From the 1932-1938 Souvenir Brochure for the Theatre - Courtesy Martin Clark and Doreen Gould.
'Stand by the curtain - my part is coming to an end. I'm leaving Theatre Life after presenting plays and controlling this little theatre. The excitement of success, the depression of failures, the suspense of first nights, the vagaries and the uncertainties have all played upon the notes of one's emotion and their very variety produced a fascinating harmony which I will always remember with happiness.
It has been an experience which I should be poorer to have missed. It has made me many friends. It has given me a clearer insight into life and a better understanding of character. It has taught me to tolerate criticism and to accept reverses cheerfully. It has enforced optimism. A great life in realism and make-believe. It has made me remember and made me forget.
Above - The Auditorium of the Duchess Theatre in the 1930s - From the 1932-1938 Souvenir Brochure for the Theatre - Courtesy Martin Clark and Doreen Gould.
This reads rather like the Theatre Manager's "copy book." What I intend it to be is a eulogy of a very happy experience. Such successes as I have achieved have been made possible by the collaboration of all those connected with my enterprises, and this souvenir of my activities at the Duchess, which is presented to the public in appreciation of their support, gives me the welcome opportunity to express my very warmest thanks to those who have been in "the show" 
with me, artistes, authors, producers, critics, the libraries, fellow managers, staff and the folk who sometimes give the pit queue the best entertainment of the evening.
My part is played thank you all good-bye curtain.'
Above - The Duchess Theatre during the run of 'The Unexpected Guest ' in 1958 - Courtesy Gerry Atkins.
The
Duchess has had far too many productions to name here but it is generally
home to small touring shows or limited run seasons of plays and small
musicals. The Theatre is unfortunately rather famous though for
being home to the World's shortest run when the production of the 'The
Intimate Revue' opened and closed on the same night.
The show, which is said to have been very under rehearsed, opened without any previous public previews on the 11th of March 1930. A lot of the audience had left before the show was even over and by the end of the night the show had closed. It was however, reopened a few weeks later on the 29th of March 1930 with the new name of 'The Second Intimate Review' but it closed again two weeks later never to return.
Right - A Review of the 'The Intimate Review' at the Duchess Theatre - From the Daily Herald, Thursday March the 13th 1930.
The Duchess Theatre was eighty years old on the 25th of November 2009 and yet it still had its original iron curtain, grid, flies, and hardwood stage in place, and all still working well. The Theatre's lift has recently been put back into service too, with its original 1929 cabin, although it is now operated by modern machinery.
The Duchess Theatre is currently run by Nimax Theatres whose own website can be found here.
If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.
Above - A Seating Plan for the Duchess Theatre from the pre-computerised days of manual ticketing - Courtesy Martin Clark and Doreen Gould.
Above - A Seating Plan for the Duchess Theatre - From 'Who's Who in the Theatre' published in 1930 - Courtesy Martin Clark. Click to see more Seating Plans from this publication.
Above - The Duchess Theatre during the run of 'See How They Run'. This photo also shows the site of the former Gaiety Theatre, Aldwych at far centre, being prepared for the construction of an Hotel in October 2006 - Photo M.L.
Above - A photograph of the Duchess Theatre taken from the roof of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, during the run of 'See How They Run' in October 2006 - Photo M.L.
Above - The Duchess Theatre during the run of 'Bakersfield Mist' with Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid in May 2014
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