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The Olympic Theatre, Wych Street, London

Above - Second Olympic Theatre - From 'Londons lost theatres of the 19th century' by Errol Sherson.

The Olympic Theatre, at the end of Wych Street, occupies the site of old Craven House, which was taken down in 1803, the ground being purchased by Mr. Philip Astley, of the "Amphitheatre " over Westminster Bridge, who constructed what was called at the time 'a house of public exhibition of horsemanship and droll," which he styled " the Olympic Pavilion." It was opened as such in 1806, but the speculation does not appear to have been successful.

Right - Third Olympic Theatre From 'Londons lost theatres of the 19th century' by Errol Sherson.

Left - Programme for the Olympic Theatre, undated - Click to see entire programme.

In 1813 the lease was sold to Robert Elliston, who introduced pieces of sufficient merit to attract the fashionable dwellers in the West-end, and by that means raised the theatre to something like successful popularity. The building was destroyed by fire in 1849, but rebuilt and opened again in the same year. It was pulled down in 1890, and rebuilt in the following year.

Right - Programme for the recently rebuilt Olympic Theatre May 14th 1892 - Click to Enlarge.

Above - Interior of Second Olympic Theatre
From 'Londons lost theatres of the 19th century' by Errol Sherson.

Madame Vestris had the management of the " Olympic " from 1832 to 1839, and many eminent actors and actresses appeared upon its boards. The pieces brought out at this theatre were principally melodramas of the superior kind.

Right - Programme for 'The Acrobat' at the New Olympic Theatre, Wych Street, Strand in 1890 - Click to see entire Programme.

For many years Robson, one of the most gifted modern comedians, attracted thousands here to witness his wonderful delineations of the tears and laughter, the joys and sorrows, of human life in its humbler aspects. Mr. Horace Wigan was for some time manager here; Mr. Benjamin Webster has likewise had the management, and since then Miss Ada Cavendish and others have taken it in hand.

Text from 'Old And New London' 1897

This theatre was 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. Four theatres were demolished during the early stages of the work. 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.

To see some of the designs for the decoration of the Olympic Theatre by Augustine Aglio (Senior) Click Here...