Plaque

St James's Theatre - SWET

Inscription

Theatreland - heart of the performing arts in London.
St James's Theatre
On this site stood the St James's Theatre, demolished in 1957 despite an epic campaign of protest led by Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier. George Alexander, manager from 1890 - 1918, staged both Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" for the first time.
A joint venture by the City of Westminster and the Society of West End Theatre.

Site: St James's Theatre (3 memorials)

SW1, King Street, 23-24

The passageway between the pub and the modern building houses the SWET plaque and the Olivier relief. The other 3 reliefs are at the far end of the passageway.

We believe the reliefs used to adorn the balconies of the first building to replace the theatre, now demolished.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Subjects commemorated i

St James's Theatre

FineArtAmerica have a photo.

Read More

Sir George Alexander

Actor-manager. Ran the St James's Theatre from about 1891 until his death in ...

Read More

Vivien Leigh

Born Darjeeling, India.  She and her husband Laurence Olivier, managed the St...

Read More

Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier

Born Dorking, Surrey, as Laurence Kerr Olivier. With his wife Vivien Leigh, h...

Read More

Oscar Wilde

Born in Dublin as Oscar Fingal O'Flaherty Wills Wilde. 'Importance of Being E...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Created by i

Society of West End Theatre/London Theatre

1908 Formed as West End Theatre Managers. 1976 By now it is called Society o...

Read More

Westminster City Council

The ancient parish of St Margaret's was divided into St Margaret's and St Joh...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Also at this site i

St James's Theatre - 3 reliefs

St James's Theatre - 3 reliefs

The four bas-relief panels by Edward Bainbridge Copnall depict the heads of G...

Read More

St James's Theatre - Olivier relief

St James's Theatre - Olivier relief

We choose this as our featured memorial in March 2007 since this year sees th...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Robert Ryder VC

Robert Ryder VC

UB9, Breakspear Rd North, The Old Workhouse

Robert Edward Ryder, VC, 1895 - 1978. Born here on the 17th December 1895. Awarded the Victoria Cross for "most conspicuous bravery and i...

War served | WW1
2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Good Shepherd Mission

Good Shepherd Mission

E2, Three Colts Lane, Good Shepherd Mission

From: British History Online: "Good Shepherd Brit. Opened 1866 for 120 M in Mape St. Ejected by Gt. Eastern Rly. and temp. used two cotta...

1 creator
Sir William Orpen

Sir William Orpen

SW5, South Bolton Gardens, 8

Lane and Orpen were distant cousins and rented this house together in 1907. The Lane plaque is above, Orpen below, with a little window b...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Celia Blairman House

Celia Blairman House

E1, Folgate Street, 31

There is an almost identical plaque on Philip Blairman House in Elder Street.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Arthur Deakin

Arthur Deakin

E1, Hunton Street, Arthur Deakin House

We have found no particular connection between Deakin and this area.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Angela Burdett-Coutts statue

Angela Burdett-Coutts statue

N6, Swains Lane

This charming Victorian gothic development of 12 Grade 2 listed homes, completed in 1865 was at the southern extremity of the Holly Lodge...

1 subject commemorated
Captain Bligh - SE1

Captain Bligh - SE1

SE1, Lambeth Road, 100

London SE1 reported this house was for sale at £2.75m: "100 Lambeth Road was Bligh's home from 1794 onwards, but he left his family behin...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Caryatid - right

Caryatid - right

SE16, Southwark Park

A nearby information board informs: The Caryatides of Rotherhithe Old Town Hall Designed and constructed {* see our note below} by Henry...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator