Comedy

• Theatre ID
  1075
• Built / Converted
  1881
• Dates of use
  • 1881: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  Panton Street, Westminster, London, SW1Y 4DN, England
• Website
  • http://www.theambassadors.com/comedy

Details

The Comedy is one of only three substantially complete pre-1890 theatres in the West End (the others are the Royal Opera House and the Criterion - all other early West End theatres having undergone complete rebuilding of their auditoria). It is a particularly beautiful example of a small 1880s theatre, which, if fully restored, would be recognised as an architectural work of outstanding quality. Despite its small stage, the Comedy was originally intended for comic opera. Its external appearance (apart from a rather mean modern entrance canopy) has changed very little. The stone classical façe to Panton Street has a 3-storey, 3-bay pedimented centre with a draped female figure carrying a torch in the central blind window recess at first floor level. A simply detailed elevation returns into Oxendon Street. Internally, Verity’s design has suffered alterations, some of which now seem regrettable, but it could be readily restored. The auditorium has three balconies with pretty plaster ornament. The 1955 works changed the line of the lower fronts but the top tier, unaltered, follows the curve of the elegantly ornamented circular ceiling, which has a fretted centre, originally accommodating a gas sunburner. The slips boxes have been blocked off in a rather off-hand way. The square proscenium is closely flanked by stage boxes, each of which is set in a dominant, round-arched frame. The boxes were originally in three tiers but the fronts have been taken out to form single tall openings which are now packed with an over-obvious collection of lanterns. Accommodating front of house lighting positions will be a major problem for anyone attempting a sympathetic restoration. The dressing rooms are now in an adjoining modern office building behind the back wall of the stage in Oxendon Street/Orange Street. There appears to be no authoritative architectural account of the Comedy. It merits the kind of detailed study accorded by the Survey of London to Verity’s Criterion. The account in Survey of London Vol XX is not in any way adequate.

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• Other names
  Alexandra/Lyric: proposed names, not used, Royal Comedy
• Events
  • 1881 Use: continuing
  • 1881 Design/Construction:
    • Thomas Verity - Architect
  • 1893 Alteration: minor alterations
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1903 Alteration: minor alterations
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1911 Alteration: vestibule & bars reconstructed
    • Whiting & Peto - Architect
  • 1933 Alteration: altered and ‘drastically redecorated’
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1955 Alteration: alterations to dressing rooms, gallery entrances and stage door
    • Cecil Masey & A Macdonald - Architect
  • 1959 - 1960 Alteration: Array redecorated
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1980 Alteration: new entrance canopy
    • Sir John Burnet-Tait & Partners - Architect
  • Owner/Management: See list of managements 1881 to 1948 in Diana Howard (op cit below)
  • Owner/Management: Current (1995) owners Mayfair (Chesterfields)
• Capacities
  • Original: 1055 (incl. standing)
  • Later: 1912: c.800 1950: 708 1983: 820
  • Current: 798
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Pros raked 1:29
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 6.55m (21ft 6in) Width SL: 6.40m SR: 10-11m (decreases upstage)
  • Proscenium width: 7.47m (24ft 6in)
  • Height to grid: 11.89m
  • Orchestra pit: Original