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Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, Charing Cross, London

Formerly The Royal Avenue Theatre

Above - The Playhouse during the run of 'Dancing in the Streets' in December 2006.

The Playhouse originally opened as the Royal Avenue Theatre on the 11th of March 1882 with 'Madame Favart,' a comic opera by Offenbach. (See Programme Right.) The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a capacity of 1,200.

Twenty five years later in 1907 the interior was being remodeled when a disastrous accident occurred. A wall from Charring Cross station, situated above the theatre, collapsed onto the building killing six workmen and extensively damaging the unfinished interior of the theatre. The building was subsequently remodeled once again following the accident and it reopened as The Playhouse on 28 January, 1907 with a one act play called 'The Drums of Oudh' and 'Toddles,' a play by Tristan Bernard and Andre Godferneaux. The new Theatre had a smaller capacity of 679.

Right - Programme for 'Madame Favart' at the Royal Avenue Theatre - circa 1880s - which was also the first production at the newly opened Theatre. Click for details.

The Playhouse was used by the BBC from 1951 for 25 years as a studio but afterwards stood derelict and in danger of demolition for 10 years until it was finally saved by allowing furthur building on top of the theatre for commercial use and a subsequent restoration of the theatre itself.

Left - Avenue Theatre seating plan - Click to enlarge.

The theatre is especially interesting in that it still retains its original substage machinery. The current seating capacity is 786.

Above - The Playhouse in 2003 - Photo M. L.

London's West End Theatres

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