Group    From 1806 

Adelphi Theatre

Categories: Theatre

Founded as the Sans Parail by John Scott, and his daughter Jane, who was an early playwright-actor-manager. 1819 it re-opened as the Adelphi Theatre, named for the Adelphi development opposite. 1858 the theatre was rebuilt. In 1879 the Gatti brothers took it over and also, 1887, created the Adelphi Theatre Restaurant next door, to the west. 1897 one of the regular performers, William Terriss, was murdered as he entered the theatre by the Maiden Lane entrance. 1901 the theatre was rebuilt to designs of Ernest Runtz and for three years known as the Century Theatre. The theatre was rebuilt again in the 1930s and in this design the theatre, the facade at least, took over one bay of the restaurant. This is the building we see today, although the facade is now even flatter than it was in the 30s. Our picture, from the the magnificent Arthur Lloyd, shows the 1858 building.

The Gatti's set up a electricity suppy for another nearby restaurant and also used it in 1885 to provide lighting to this theatre, making the Adelphi the first London theatre to be lit with electric light, according to the ODNB.  But the Savoy Theatre, claims this crown in 1881.

The Theatres Trust have a detailed description of the various changes the theatre has been through.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Adelphi Theatre

Creations i

Terriss

City of Westminster William Terriss, 1847 - 1897, hero of the Adelphi melodr...

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Other Subjects

Albert Finney

Albert Finney

Actor. Born Salford. In 1960 Finney and Olivier worked together on The Entertainer, directed by Tony Richardson, at the time married to Vanessa Redgrave. He died of a chest infection, aged 82 year...

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Savoy Theatre

Savoy Theatre

The Savoy Theatre opened in 1881. Despite this date it is a delightful example of Art Deco, explained on the Savoy Theatre website as follows: The theatre closed on 3 June 1929 to be internally com...

Building, Theatre

3 memorials
Sir Henry Taylor

Sir Henry Taylor

Born Bishop Middleham, County Durham. Poet, playwright and public servant. He went to sea as a young man, but after finding it did not agree with his health, took up a position in the Treasury. H...

Person, Poetry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Theatre

1 memorial
Celia Johnson

Celia Johnson

Actor. Born Celia Elizabeth Johnson at 46 Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey. Best known for her performance with Trevor Howard in the 1945 film 'Brief Encounter'; which, although it has been parodied...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre

Richard D'Oyly Carte intended the theatre to be the home of English grand opera, as a counterpart to the light operas that were produced at the Savoy Theatre, and it opened with Sir Arthur Sullivan...

Building, Theatre

2 memorials