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The Holborn Theatre originally opened as the New Royal Ampitheatre in 1867. The Theatre was built by Thomas Ennor to the designs of the architect Thomas Smith. The building had a multitude of name changes over its short twenty year life as a live Theatre.

Right - For more images of Holborn and London's lost Streets see the Disappearing London page here.

Even in the year the Theatre was built the name was changed, to the Royal Ampitheatre and Circus, and then in 1873 it was changed to the Grand Cirque & Ampitheatre. Later that year the name was changed to the National Ampitheatre and then the following year to the Holborn Ampitheatre when John Hollingshead took over management of the building for six months. Four years later in 1878 the name was changed to Hamilton's Royal Ampitheatre and the following year it was changed to the Royal Connaught Theatre. In 1881 Charles Morton ran the Theatre for three months. In 1882 it was known as the Alcazar Theatre, 1883 the International Theatre, and finally in 1884 the Holborn Theatre.

Right - A Programme for 'Our Boarding House' at the International Theatre, High Holborn, on Friday February the 1st 1884, shortly before the name was changed to the Holborn Theatre.

The building ceased operation as a live Theatre in 1887 and was converted into the West Central Hall which was later to become known as the Holborn Stadium and finally the Stadium Club.