The Novello Theatre, Aldwych, London, W.C.2 Formerly Waldorf Theatre / Strand Theatre / Whitney Theatre

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The Novello Theatre, Aldwych, London, W.C.2

Formerly the Waldorf Theatre / Strand Theatre / Whitney Theatre

The Novello Theatre on its reopening in December 2005 - Photo M.L.

Above - The Novello Theatre on its reopening in December 2005 - Photo M.L.

The Novello Theatre has had so many changes of name over the years that it is hard to keep up. The Theatre was originally built and opened as the Waldorf Theatre, but it has also been known variously as the Whitney Theatre, the Strand Theatre (twice), and in 2005 it was renamed the Novello Theatre. All these various incarnations are detailed below.

The Waldorf Theatre - From a period postcard. The Theatre originally opened as the Waldorf Theatre on the 22nd May 1905 with an Opera by Ferdinand Paer, 'Il Maestro di Capella,' which was part of the opening season of plays and operas presented by Eleanora Duse (See Programme Below Right.)

Left - The Waldorf 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.

Right - A Programme for 'Dorothy' presented by Eleanora Duse at the Waldorf Theatre in 1905. - Click for details. - Courtesy Crispin Cockman.

The Waldorf Theatre, Aldwych - From an early postcard

Above - The Waldorf Theatre, Aldwych - From an early postcard

The Waldorf Theatre was constructed at the bottom corner of Catherine Street - the top end of which houses the fourth and present Theatre Royal Drury Lane which has been open since 1812. The Waldorf Theatre was part of a vast new building consisting of the Waldorf Theatre itself, the new Waldorf Hotel in the center, and at the far end, the Aldwych Theatre. Both Theatres were designed by W. G. R. Sprague and given identical exteriors.

Early postcard showing the Waldorf Theatre and Hotel, and the Aldwych Theatre, far right.

Above - Early postcard showing the Waldorf Theatre, the Waldorf Hotel, and the Aldwych Theatre, far right.

Just prior to the Theatre's opening, The ERA printed in it's 20th May 1905 edition a description of the new Waldorf Theatre, it read:

Period postcard with map showing the Waldorf Hotel, and the Waldorf , Aldwych and Gaiety Theatres. 'The decorative scheme of the interior is in the Louis XIV style. The walls of the crush room and main staircase are adorned with alternate stripes of dove coloured and violet marble, and the balustrade of the staircase is a wrought iron copy of one of Baron's famous designs.

Right - Period postcard with map showing the Waldorf Hotel, and the Waldorf , Aldwych and Gaiety Theatres.

On the first tier level is the refreshment saloon, decorated in cream and gold. In the auditorium the colour scheme is Rose du Barri, relieved by richly gilt circle fronts, and by a touch of green in the French tapestries upholstering the stalls and dress circle; a qualifying note being struck in the brown French walnut of the seat frames. One of the notable features is a magnificent circular ceiling in modelled plaster with finely gilt centre piece and outer border, and a boldly treated picture sweeping round the two, painted after the style of Le Brun.

The bas relievo modelling of the tympanum which surmounts the proscenium represents Apollo in his chariot drawn by four spirited horses, and attended by goddesses and cupids. The action is full of vigour, combined with delicacy of touch.

Left - Seating Plan for the Strand Theatre, Formerly the Waldorf Theatre, now Novello - Click to Enlarge.

A deep cornice in Louis XIV style runs round the theatre, and over the proscenium opening and boxes. The proscenium opening and the dress and upper circle are supported by pilasters of Fleur de peche marble with gilt capitals; and between the smaller pilasters on the dress circle and stalls level lofty mirrors reach to the cornice. The prevailing tone of Rose du Barri is continued in a deep velvet pile carpet of the same colour.' The ERA 20th May 1905.

The Waldorf Hotel with the Waldorf (Now Strand) Theatre (left) and the Aldwych Theatre (right) c.1906.

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.

Damage to the Strand Theatre, 13th October, 1915. - From a Nostalgia Postcard from 1950. The Waldorf Theatre had a change of name in 1909 when it became the Strand Theatre, but this was only temporary as in 1911 it was changed again to the Whitney Theatre. However the name reverted back to the Strand Theatre again in 1913 and would remain so until 2005.

The Theatre was redecorated and partly reconstructed in 1930 and the Dress Circle rear boxes were removed.

The Theatre suffered some bomb damage during the first world war and brief details of this are below.

Right - Bomb damage to the Strand Theatre, 13th October, 1915. - From a 1950s Nostalgia Postcard. The rear of the card reads:

'Damage was inflicted on the Strand Theatre in London when two bombs were dropped on Aldwych by the Zeppelin L15.

Another bomb from the same airship fell in front of the Lyceum Theatre.

The Zeppelins were a sinister new development in aerial warfare. Their engines made 'a weird and peculiar burr' which became all too familiar.Bombing raids using aircraft followed in 1917.'

Right - The same side elevation of the Strand Theatre on Catherine Street, as shown in the image of the bomb damage in 1915.

1936 Programme for 'Aren't Men Beasts!' at the Strand Theatre staring John Mills whose picture, from the programme is also shown John Mills who died in 2005.

Above - 1936 Programme for 'Aren't Men Beasts!' at the Strand Theatre staring John Mills whose picture, from the programme, is also shown above. John Mills died in 2005.

Programme for the Strand Theatre 1933

Above - Three programmes for the Strand Theatre 1933, 1935, and 1949.

The Strand Theatre being refurbished and it's name changed to the Novello Theatre in July 2005 - Photo M.L.

Above - The Strand Theatre being refurbished and it's name changed
to the Novello Theatre in July 2005 - Photo M.L.

In the summer of 2005, marking the Theatre's 100th anniversary, the Delfont Mackintosh group, who recently refurbished the Prince of Wales Theatre, began a major refurbishment of the Strand Theatre, which was completed in December 2005, and renamed once again, this time as the Novello Theatre, in recognition of Ivor Novello who lived in a flat over the Theatre for 38 years, between 1913 and 1951, and wrote many of his most memorable musicals there.

Right - The Stage Door of the Strand Theatre in 2005 on Tavistock Street during renovations and conversion to the Novello Theatre. - Photo M.L.

Left - In Search Of Ruritania by David Slattery is an honest and affectionate journey into the life, work and world of the late Ivor Novello. Click to buy the book at Amazon.co.uk.

For more history on the Novello Theatre you may also like to visit this page on the Delfont Mackintosh website and click the History Tab.

The Novello Theatre on its opening in December 2005 - Photo M.L.

Above - The Novello Theatre on its opening in December 2005 - Photo M.L.

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