History Adelphi Theatre

1 history

1.1 19th century
1.2 20th century
1.3 21st century

history
19th century

it founded in 1806 sans pareil ( without compare ), merchant john scott, , daughter jane (1770–1839). jane british theatre manager, performer, , playwright. together, gathered theatrical company , 1809 theatre licensed musical entertainments, pantomime, , burletta. wrote more fifty stage pieces in array of genres: melodramas, pantomimes, farces, comic operettas, historical dramas, , adaptations, translations. jane scott retired surrey in 1819, marrying john davies middleton (1790–1867).

sketch of scene jane scott s 1816 play, old oak chest

on 18 october 1819, theatre reopened under present name, adopted adelphi buildings opposite.

in years, theatre known melodrama, called adelphi screamers. many stories charles dickens adapted stage here, including john baldwin buckstone s christening, comic burletta, opened on 13 october 1834, based on story bloomsbury christening. notable being thought first dickens adaption performed. first of many of dickens s works adapted stage of adelphi, including pickwick papers william leman rede s peregrinations of pickwick; or, boz-i- a-na, three-act burletta first performed on 3 april 1837, frederick henry yates s production of nicholas nickleby; or, doings @ do-the-boys hall in november , december 1838, , edward stirling s two-act burletta old curiosity shop; or, 1 hour humphrey s clock (november , december 1840, january 1841). theatre itself, makes cameo appearance in pickwick papers

the adelphi came under management of madame celeste , comedian benjamin webster, in 1844, , buckstone appointed resident dramatist. dramatisations of dickens continued performed, including christmas carol; or, past, present, , future opening on 5 february; , beckett s chimes: goblin story of bells rang old year out , new 1 in. in 1848, haunted man , ghost’s bargain performed.

charles dickens haunted man , ghost’s bargain @ adelphi, in illustrated london news, 30 december 1848

the old theatre demolished, , on 26 december 1858, new adelphi opened , considered improvement on cramped circumstances of original, had been described hasty conversion tavern hall, permanently kept in provisional state . new theatre seat 1,500 people, standing room 500. interior lighted stroud s patent sun lamp, brilliant array of gas mantles passed through chandelier of cut-glass.

in mid-19th century, john lawrence toole established comedic reputation @ adelphi. in mid-19th century, adelphi hosted number of french operettas, including la belle hélène. in 1867, however, adelphi gave english comic opera boost hosting first public performance of arthur sullivan s first opera, cox , box.

the building renovated in 1879 , again in 1887 when house next door, along hampshire hog in strand , nell gwynne tavern in bull inn court, bought gattis in order enlarge theatre. built new enlarged facade , part of can still seen today above crystal rooms next door present adelphi theatre.

an actor performed regularly @ adelphi in latter half of 19th century, william terriss, stabbed death during run of ‘secret service’ on 16 december 1897 whilst entering theatre royal entrance in maiden lane used private entrance. recorded on plaque on wall stage door. outside neighbouring pub, sign says killer 1 of theatre s stage hands, richard archer prince committed murder. has been said terriss ghost haunts theatre. terriss daughter ellaline terriss, famous actress, , husband, actor-manager seymour hicks managed adelphi years @ end of 19th century. stage door of current adelphi in maiden lane in bull inn court. william terriss later have theatre named after him, terriss theatre in rotherhithe, later known rotherhithe hippodrome.

the adjacent, numbers 409 , 410 strand, built in 1886–87 gatti brothers adelphi restaurant. frontage remains same, plate glass windows, and, theatre, grade ii listed building.

20th century

cover of vocal score

on 11 september 1901, third theatre opened century theatre, although name reverted in 1904. theatre built frank kirk design of ernest runtz. george edwardes, dean of london musical theatre, took on management of theatre in 1908. in part of 20th century, adelphi home number of musical comedies, successful of included earl , girl (1904), dairymaids (1907), quaker girl (1910), boy (1917), clowns in clover (1927), , mr. cinders (1929).

the present adelphi opened on 3 december 1930, redesigned in art deco style ernest schaufelberg. named royal adelphi theatre , re-opened hit musical ever green, lorenz hart , richard rodgers, based on book benn w. levy. noël coward s words , music premièred @ theatre in 1932. operetta balalaika (a revised version of gay hussars) played @ theatre in 1936, , in 1940 theatre s name again reverted adelphi . theatre continued host comedy , musicals, including bless bride (1947), maggie may (1964), , little night music (1975), dramas (see below list beginning in 1979).

a proposed redevelopment of covent garden glc in 1968 saw theatre under threat, nearby vaudeville, garrick, lyceum , duchess theatres. active campaign equity, musicians union, , theatre owners under auspices of save london theatres campaign led abandonment of scheme.

on 27 february 1982 adelphi hosted final night of d oyly carte opera company concert performance of songs thirteen savoy operas cox , box , thespis. in 1993, andrew lloyd webber s useful group purchased theatre , refurbished prior opening of adaptation of sunset boulevard. 1998 video of lloyd webber s musical cats filmed @ theatre.

21st century

in november 1997, london production of popular american musical chicago premiered @ adelphi, becoming venue s longest-ever production during eight-and-a-half-year run (which made longest running american musical in west end history). in april 2006, chicago transferred cambridge theatre (and later garrick theatre, closed in 2012.).

michael grandage s revival of andrew lloyd webber s evita replaced show, beginning previews on 2 june 2006 before completing twelve-month run on 26 may 2007. brian wilson performed album pet sounds last time in uk @ adelphi in november 2006. 6 july 2007, adelphi home lloyd webber revival, joseph , amazing technicolor dreamcoat. actor playing joseph, lee mead, cast winning bbc television show dream do, , starred alongside preeya kalidas , dean collinson.

the adelphi theatre, 27 august 2011

9 march 2010 saw premiere of andrew lloyd webber musical, love never dies, closed on saturday 27 august 2011. national theatre transferred show 1 man, 2 guvnors theatre 8 november 2011. production moved out of theatre on 25 february 2012, transferring theatre royal haymarket, london.

sweeney todd, demon barber of fleet street began limited season @ adelphi 10 march 22 september 2012, transferring chichester festival theatre, starring michael ball , imelda staunton.

the theatre owned , managed adelphi theatre company limited, partnership between andrew lloyd webber s useful theatres , nederlander international.