PLAYHOUSE THEATRE
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1356962
- Date first listed:
- 09-Jan-1970
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 01-Dec-1987
- Statutory Address:
- PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, CRAVEN STREET WC2
- Statutory Address:
- PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, EMBANKMENT PLACE WC2
Map
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Location
- Statutory Address:
- PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, CRAVEN STREET WC2
- Statutory Address:
- PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, EMBANKMENT PLACE WC2
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- City of Westminster (London Borough)
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 30318 80345
Details
TO 3080 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER CRAVEN STREET, WC2
83/46
9.1.70 Playhouse Theatre
G.V. II
Theatre. 1881-82 by F.H. Fowler as the Royal Avenue Theatre, interior
reconstructed 1906-07 by Blow and Billerey. Painted stone, concealed
roof. Restrained and elegant classical design. 2 storeys. 11 windows
wide with curved south east end. Ground floor doorways grouped to corner
under canopy, and blind architraved and corniced windows in rusticated
ground floor articulated by modified Corinthian pilasters supporting
entablature. The tall upper storey has architraved windows with
pediments on consoles and blind oculi above, articulated by giant
pilasters supporting full entablature and balustraded parapet. The
interior is an elegant exercise in Blow and Billerey's Louis XV manner:
kidney-shaped outer foyer with cresting of ribboned sprigs to inner
archway; panelled inner foyer with cartouche-trophy of musical
instruments; the auditorium has basket-arch proscenium set in deep reveal
framing the boxes, the arch surmounted by an achievement of figures of
Fame crowning Thalia; kidney-shaped lower and upper balconies, the lower
continuing the line of the upper boxes, all with turned baluster fronts;
caryatids flank the (former) lower boxes, supporting upper ones; sweeping
basket arch frames uppermost part of auditorium; circular dome and oval
panel of ceiling and the basket arch wall panels all decorated in
grisaille. Stage machinery probably dating from 1906-07 reconstruction.
The Theatres of London; Mander and Mitchenson.
Listing NGR: TQ3031880345
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 209379
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Mander, , Mitchenson, , The Theatres of London, (1975)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official listing