The St James's Theatre (est. 1835) was a 1,200-seat theatre located in King Street, at Duke Street, St James's, London. St James's is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The elaborate theatre was designed with a neo-classical exterior and a Louis XIV style interior by Samuel Beazley and built by the partnership of Peto & Grissell for the tenor and theatre director, John Braham. Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century both as a reaction against the Rococo Samuel Beazley (1786–1851 was a London Architect, Novelist and Playwright. Sir Samuel Morton Peto 1st Baronet ( 4 August 1809 &ndash 13 November 1889) was an English Entrepreneur in the 19th century The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice John Braham (c 1774 - 17 February, 1856) was a Tenor Opera singer born in London England.
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History
The theatre opened on December 14, 1835 with a mixed programme of an operatic burletta, Agnes Sorel, starring Braham, and two farces by Gilbert Abbott à Beckett. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Gilbert Abbott à Beckett ( January 9, 1811 &ndash August 30, 1856) was an English humorist In 1840, it changed its name to "Prince's Theatre", but changed it back in 1841. The theatre was rebuilt several times: in 1869, 1879-80. [1] It closed on July 27, 1957 and was demolished and rebuilt as an office building. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar)
Early years at the theatre
Productions at the theatre included opera, Shakespearian readings, burlesques of opera, ballet, foreign plays, magicians, operetta, and new plays. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Ballet is a formalized form of Dance with its origins in the French court further developed in France and Russia as a Concert dance Braham's company struggled financially, and after a few seasons he gave up. In 1842, John Mitchell took over the theatre, producing mostly French comedies and plays with the greatest stars of the French stage, and the Theatre was a success and became fashionable for a dozen years, even being visited frequently by the Queen Victoria. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland In 1846, an amateur performance of Ben Jonson’s Every Man in his Humour included Charles Dickens playing Captain Bobadil. Benjamin Jonson ( c 11 June 1572 &ndash 6 August 1637) was an English Renaissance Dramatist In 1846, the Ethiopian Serenaders infected London with the American craze for minstrel shows, a form of entertainment which was to remain popular until the turn of the century. The Ethiopian Serenaders was a Blackface minstrel troupe from the 1840s The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits variety acts dancing, and Music, Not long afterwards, the Christy Minstrels opened in London at the theatre on 3 August 1857 before moving to other venues. Christy's Minstrels, sometimes referred to as the Christy Minstrels, were a Blackface group formed by Edwin Pearce Christy, a well-known ballad singer Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the Their success led to the phrase "Christy Minstrels" coming to mean any any blackface minstrel show. [2] F. C. Burnand produced his first major play at the St James's, a burlesque called Dido, in 1860. Sir Francis Cowley Burnand (29 November 1836 &ndash 21 April 1917 often credited as F Benjamin Nottingham Webster was the manager of the theatre for a time. Benjamin Nottingham Webster ( 3 September, 1797 - 3 July, 1882) was an English Actor, theatre manager and Dramatic
In 1866, the theatre presented Henry Irving's first big success in London as Rawdon Scudamore in Hunted Down; or, The Two Lives of Mary Leigh, by Dion Boucicault. Sir Henry Irving ( February 6 1838 &ndash October 13 1905) born John Henry Brodribb was an English stage actor in the Victorian era Dionysius Lardner Boursiquot (born December 26, circa 1820 &ndash died September 18, 1890) was an Irish Actor and Playwright In addition, that year saw one of W. S. Gilbert's earliest plays, Dulcamara! or, The Little Duck and the Great Quack, a parody of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 &ndash 29 May 1911 was an English Dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen Dulcamara or the Little Duck and the Great Quack, is one of the earliest plays written by W Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 &ndash 8 April 1848 was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. L'elisir d'amore ( The Elixir of Love) is a Melodramma giocoso in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. In 1869, the newly-renovated theatre presented Mrs. John Wood, then the proprietress, in a long run (for those days, 160 performances) of She Stoops to Conquer. Mrs John Wood (bap November 28, 1831 &ndash January 11, 1915) born Matilda Charlotte Vining, was an English actress She Stoops to Conquer is a Comedy by the Irish author Oliver Goldsmith, son of an Anglo-Irish vicar first performed in London in 1773 Thomas W. Robertson's last play, War, was produced in 1871, and he died the following month. Thomas William Robertson ( 9 January 1829 – 3 February 1871) usually known professionally as T In 1875, Gilbert's collaborator, Arthur Sullivan (they had just produced their one-act opera, Trial by Jury at another theatre), produced The Zoo, and Gilbert was back the same year with his farce, Tom Cobb; or, Fortune's Toy, and in 1888 with a drama, Brantinghame Hall, under the management of Rutland Barrington, that flopped badly. Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan MVO (13 May 1842 &ndash 22 November 1900 was an English composer of Irish and Italian descent best known for his operatic This article is about the comic opera For the legal institution see Jury trial. This article is about the comic opera by Arthur Sullivan For other uses see The Zoo (disambiguation. Tom Cobb or Fortune's Toy is a farce in three-acts (styled "An Entirely Original Farcical Comedy" by W Brantinghame Hall is a play in four acts written by W S Gilbert for his friend Rutland Barrington, who was then leasing the St Rutland Barrington (15 January 1853 &ndash 31 May 1922 was an English singer Actor, comedian and Edwardian musical comedy star Barrington had previously produced The Dean's Daughter by Sydney Grundy at the theatre that year, another flop. Sydney Grundy ( March 23 1848 &ndash July 4 1914) was an English dramatist [3]
After Mrs. Wood, Madge Kendal and her husband William Hunter Kendal took over the theatre together with John Hare, renovating it again in 1879. Dame Madge Kendal DBE ( 15 March 1848 &ndash 14 September 1935) born Margaret Shafto Robertson, was an English William Hunter Kendal (1843-1917 was an English actor born William Hunter Grimston. Sir John Hare ( May 16 1844 &ndash December 28 1921) born John Fairs, was an English actor and manager of the Garrick Theatre In 1880, Tom Taylor's Still Waters Run Deep was produced, the first of several of his works. Tom Taylor ( 19 October 1817 &ndash 12 July 1880) was a dramatist critic biographer public servant and editor of Punch magazine About a dozen Arthur Wing Pinero plays also followed. Sir Arthur Wing Pinero ( 24 May 1855 - 23 November 1934) was an English Dramatist. Some of their notable successes included The Squire, Impulse, The Ironmaster, and A Scrap of Paper. Lillie Langtry took over briefly in 1890, presenting As You Like It and Sydney Grundy's Esther Sandraz. Lillie Langtry ( 13 October 1853 &ndash 12 February 1929) born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, was a highly successful British As You Like It is a Pastoral Comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published Sydney Grundy ( March 23 1848 &ndash July 4 1914) was an English dramatist
The George Alexander and inter-war era
By the end of 1890, George Alexander had taken over the theatre, and he remained in charge for the rest of his life, until 1918. The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on February 14, 1895 at the St Allan Aynesworth (born Edward Abbot-Anderson, April 14, 1864 in Sandhurst, Berkshire; died August 22, 1959 in George Alexander may refer to George Alexander (actor, British actor George Alexander (politician, mayor of Los Angeles George Alexander may refer to George Alexander (actor, British actor George Alexander (politician, mayor of Los Angeles In 1892, he produced Oscar Wilde’s first great success, Lady Windermere's Fan. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900 was an Irish Playwright, Novelist, poet and Author of Lady Windermere's Fan A Play About a Good Woman is a four act Comedy by Oscar Wilde, first produced 22 February 1892 at the In 1895, Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest premiered at the theatre. The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on February 14, 1895 at the St Other Alexander triumphs included The Second Mrs. Tanqueray, by Pinero (1893); The Prisoner of Zenda, by Anthony Hope (1896); As You Like It (1896); Much Ado About Nothing (1898); Paolo and Francesca, by Stephen Phillips (1902); If I were King, by Justin Huntly McCarthy (1902); Old Heidelberg, by Meyer Forster and Bleichmann (1903) and His House in Order, by Pinero (1906), to name only a few of the plays still remembered. Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, better known as Anthony Hope (9 February 1863 – 8 July 1933 was an English novelist and playwright As You Like It is a Pastoral Comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter Stephen Phillips ( 28 July 1864 – December 9, 1915) was an English poet and dramatist who enjoyed considerable popularity in his Justin Huntly McCarthy (1859 &ndash 20 March 1936) was an Irish nationalist author politician and MP Also premiered during that time was George Bernard Shaw’s Androcles and the Lion in 1913. George Bernard Shaw ( (26 July 1856 &ndash 2 November 1950 was an Irish Playwright.
After Alexander died, the lease was taken over by Gilbert Miller, the American impresario, who later purchased the theatre and owned it up to its eventual sale for re-development and demolition. Gilbert Heron Miller ( July 3, 1884 - January 2, 1969) was a American Theatrical producer. The first play of the new era was The Eyes of Youth, which ran for 383 performances. In 1923, The Green Goddess, by William Archer, started its run of 417 performances. William Archer may refer to A World War II soldier sung about in the song Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy William S Sir Gerald du Maurier was actor-manager of the St James's for several years in the 1920s and 1930s. Sir Gerald Hubert Edward Busson du Maurier ( 26 March 1873 &ndash 11 April 1934) was a British actor and manager He had appeared there as Lord Arthur Dilling in The Last of Mrs. Cheyney by Frederick Lonsdale (1925), which ran for 514 performances, being succeeded in that role by Henry Daniell. Frederick Lonsdale (born St Helier Jersey, 5 February 1881; d London, 4 April 1954) was an English Dramatist Henry Daniell ( March 5, 1894, London, England – October 31, 1963, Santa Monica Interference (1927), by Ronald Pertwee and Harold Dearden was another big success and ran for 412 performances. Daniell appeared again at the St James's in 1928 as Satollyon in The Return Journey and in 1932 as Max Lawrence in The Vinegar Tree. In 1929, Alfred Lunt made his London debut with his wife Lynn Fontanne in the Theatre Guild production of Caprice. Alfred Lunt (August 12 1892 – August 3 1977 was an American Tony Award -winning stage director and actor Lynn Fontanne ( December 6 1887 – July 30 1983) was a British -born actress who was a major stage star in the United States for over A number of very successful plays ran at the theatre in the 1930s and 1940s, including Agatha Christie's Ten Little..., which was interrupted when a bomb damaged the roof of the theatre in 1944. Agatha Mary Clarissa Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 &ndash 12 January 1976 commonly known as Agatha Christie, was an English And Then There Were None is a work of Detective fiction by Agatha Christie first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club
Last years
Other famous actors who performed at the theatre included Charles Wyndham, William Terriss, J. L. Toole, Rutland Barrington (who became bankrupt managing the theatre for a time), Henry Ainley (who briefly co-managed with Gilbert Miller), Claude Rains, Charles Hawtrey, and Orson Welles. Vivien Leigh Lady Olivier (5 November 1913 &ndash 8 July 1967 was an English actress. Fire Over England is a 1937 London Film Productions film drama notable for providing the first pairing of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh Sir Charles Wyndham ( 23 March 1837 &ndash 1919 was an English Actor, was born Charles Culverwell in Liverpool, the son William Terriss ( 20 February 1847 - 16 December 1897) was an English Actor, known for his swashbuckling hero roles such John Lawrence (J L Toole ( 12 March 1830 &ndash 30 July 1906) was an English comic Actor and theatrical producer Rutland Barrington (15 January 1853 &ndash 31 May 1922 was an English singer Actor, comedian and Edwardian musical comedy star Henry Hinchliffe Ainley ( Gilbert Heron Miller ( July 3, 1884 - January 2, 1969) was a American Theatrical producer. William Claude Rains (10 November &ndash30 May) was an English award-winning Actor and Film star whose career spanned 47 years Sir Charles Henry Hawtrey ( 21 September 1858 &ndash 30 July 1923) was a celebrated Stage actor, Comedian, director George Orson Welles (May 6 1915 – October 10 1985 was an Academy Award -winning director, writer actor and producer for film stage radio and television Laurence Olivier and his wife Vivien Leigh took over the management of the theatre in 1950, opening with Christopher Fry’s new play, Venus Observed. Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Vivien Leigh Lady Olivier (5 November 1913 &ndash 8 July 1967 was an English actress. Christopher Fry ( 18 December 1907 &ndash 30 June 2005) was a English Playwright. In 1951, they produced and starred in an ambitious production of both Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra and Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra for the Festival of Britain. Antony and Cleopatra is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare. It was first printed in the First Folio of 1623 The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition which opened in London and around Britain in May 1951 In 1954, a Terence Rattigan play, Separate Tables, commenced a run of 726 performances, a record for this theatre. Sir Terence Mervyn Rattigan ( June 10 1911 – November 30 1977) was one of England 's most popular 20th century Dramatists Separate Tables is the collective name of two one-act plays written by Sir Terence Rattigan, both taking place in the Beauregard Private Hotel Bournemouth The play (actually two one-act plays, both taking place in the same setting at a Hotel in Bournemouth, a seaside town on the south coast of England) was intended to star Olivier and Leigh, but scheduling did not permit this, and the plays starred Margaret Leighton and Eric Portman. Bournemouth ( is a large coastal resort town in the Borough of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. Margaret Leighton ( 26 February 1922 &ndash 13 January 1976) was an English actress. Eric Portman (born Halifax West Yorkshire on 13 July, 1901 and died St Veep, Cornwall on 7 December, 1969
In 1957, Leigh and Olivier led a nation-wide campaign to try to save the historic theatre, involving street marches and a protest in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" A motion was carried against the Government in that house, but it was of no avail. However, the London County Council ordered to see to it that no further theatres would be demolished again in central London without a replacement being planned for. London County Council (LCC was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889-1965 existence and the first London-wide general municipal The office building, St. James's House, incorporates sculptured balcony fronts on each floor above the entrance. Four bas-relief panels by Edward Bainbridge Copnall depict the heads of Gilbert Miller, George Alexander, Oscar Wilde, and the Oliviers.
References
- Barrington, Rutland (1908). Rutland Barrington: A Record of 34 Years' Experience on the English Stage, By Himself. Preface by W. S. Gilbert. Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 &ndash 29 May 1911 was an English Dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen
- Duncan, Barry, St. James's Theatre, Its Strange and Complete History, 1835-1857 (1964) London: Barrie and Rockliff
- Mason, A. E. W. , Sir George Alexander and the St. James's Theatre (1935) London: Macmillan
- Pope, W. Macqueen, St. James's Theatre of Distinction (1958) London: W. H. Allen
- Who's Who in the Theatre, edited by John Parker, tenth edition, revised, London, 1947, pp. 477-478.
- Anonymous, A Chronicle of the St. James's Theatre from its origin in 1835 (1900) London
- Mander, Raymond and Joe Mitchenson, Lost Theatres of London (1968) London: Rupert Hart-Davis
External links
- St James's Theatre History With many archive images and original programmes.
- Profile and images of the theatre
- Theatre timeline and images
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