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Terry's Theatre was built in 1887 on the site of the old Coal Hole public house and music hall on the Strand. In 1905 it was altered by the renowned architect and theatre builder, Frank Matcham. As with so many theatres it was converted to a cinema in 1910, and then demolished in 1923.

Right - Terry's Theatre seating plan - Click to Enlarge.

TERRY, EDWARD O'CONNOR (1844) English actor, was born in London, and began his stage career in a small and struggling way in the provinces. Between 1868 and 1875 he was the leading comedian at the Strand theatre, London, but it was not till he joined Hollingshead's company at the Gaiety in 1876 that he became a public favourite in the burlesques produced there during the next eight years. With Nellie Farren, Kate Vaughan and Royce, he made the fortune of this house, his eccentric acting and singing creating a style which had many imitators.

In 1887 he went into management, opening Terry's theatre, where his production of Pinero's Sweet Lavender was a great success. But in subsequent years he was only occasionally seen at his own theatre, and made many tours in the provinces and in Australia, America and South Africa. Off the stage he was well known as an ardent Freemason, and an indefatigable member of the councils of many charities and of public bodies.

Encyclopedia Britannica 11th edition

The Romance of London Theatres
By Ronald Mayes
No. 119. Terry's

Terry's Theatre stood in the Strand on the site now occupied by Fountain Court and Woolworth's Stores. In the eighteenth century there stood on the same spot "The Fountain Tavern" and "The Coal Hole," the meeting place of the Wolf Club, of which about 1820, Edmund Kean was a leading member. "The Coal Hole" was one of the places illustrated by Thackeray in his scenes of old-time song and supper rooms, and where the well-known "Baron" Nicholson held "The judge and jury Club."

After this the house was acquired by Charles Wilmot, an Australian, who christened it "The Occidental Tavern," which became a popular resort of actors.

It was Wilmot, in conjunction with Dr. Webb, who built the theatre, which was opened in 1887. It afterwards came under the control of Edward Terry. The first play he produced there was called "The Churchwarden." He liked this kind of play, because he was a very keen parochial worker. It was followed by "The Wornan Hater" -both plays were fairly successful. Terry's Theatre was not a remarkable success until the production of Pinero's play "Sweet Lavender"

Right - Programme for the first production at Terry's Theatre in 1887 'Law and Physic' and 'Sweet Lavender' - Click for details.

On the first night there was fiasco over the complimentary seats, and one well known critic was apparently excluded from the invitations. He arrived uninvited, however, but was stopped on his way to the stalls. He cursed the play, the actors and everything connected with it, and raising his hands to heaven he expressed the wish that the theatre would be burnt to the ground. Happily, however, the theatre still stood and his wish for failure did not materialise, for "Sweet Lavender" was an unprecedented success and became the rage of the playgoing public. The sweetness of the play was haunting, the acting unforgettable, and it continued to run for such a length of time that people began to ask "Will there ever be a last perforance of 'Sweet Lavender' ?"

"Sweet Lavender" brought a clear £20,000 profit to the manager and ran for seven hundred nights.. It had an astonishingly good cast, including Terry, Brandon Thomas, Maude Millett and Carlotta Addison. The play cost £66 to produce. The running expenses were very little, the largest salary paid being £18 per week.

Pinero wrote other pieces for this theatre, including "In Chancery," which was produced in 1890 and "The Times" in 1892. Terry's actual contribution to theatrical history was not really remarkable. There were, however, several plays which enjoyed quite long runs, including "The New Boy," Jerome's "Old Lamps for New" and "The Pantomime Rehearsal," the latter play being particularly successful. "My Lady Motly," too, had a record run and proved very popular with the public.

Left - Programme for 'Jedbury Junr' at Terry's Theatre February 14th 1896 - Click to see entire programme.

In 1894 there was an endeavour to reassociate Kate Vaughan and Edward Terry in a series of sketches from old Gaiety successes, but it was not successful.

Prior to its demolition in connection with the Strand widening scheme, the theatre was run as a cinema for some years.

Text from 'The Romance of London Theatres by Ronald Mayes" - From a programme for the Lewisham Hippodrome.