Neptune

• Theatre ID
  1918
• Built / Converted
  1913
• Dates of use
  • 1913: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3DY, England

Details

Crane Building, built for the Crane Brothers to accommodate their music shop and offices is a five-storey stone and brick building, six bays with canted wall to Hanover Street, and five bays to School Lane, Mezzanine and attic. The Mezzanine has small-paned casements between flat pilasters and entablature; the three upper storeys have flat pilasters with some carving. The Concert Hall is above the music shop (the latter now modernised) and the fly tower is within in a mansard roof. The hall was conceived as a showcase for instrumental recitals, but took the form of a theatre and was used, as such, though it was known as the Crane Hall until 1938. The auditorium is reached from a corner entrance by a wide curving staircase with dark polished wood dado, which sets the style of the interior created with mahogany and plaster splendour reminiscent of the luxury liners. Through a rectangular foyer with booking office and access to the theatre bar, the theatre is reached through pairs of mahogany doors. The interior, almost square, has a flat panelled ceiling, with centre cluster of lights, walls with fluted Ionic pilasters, modillioned cornices and busts of famous composers in wreaths. There is a small balcony with panelled front; urn decorations above the doors are echoed in the square proscenium decoration at the sides. The lower parts of the walls are panelled with polished mahogany with a Greek frieze; the plasterwork is decorated ivory on a deep green. Although the architect has not yet been identified the stylistic references are very reminiscent of S D Adshead’s Liverpool Playhouse interior of 1912. No longer associated with the Crane Brothers, the theatre was saved by the Corporation taking a lease in 1968. It was renamed after Neptune who figures in the City Coat of Arms. It is an unusual, extremely pleasing and intimate house, suitable for plays and chamber music.

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• Other names
  Crane Hall, Crane Theatre
• Events
  • 1913 Use: continuing
  • 1913 Design/Construction:
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1968 Alteration: removable apron constructed; repainted and refurbished
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1969 Alteration: safety curtain motorised; backstage refurbished
    • Unknown - Architect
  • Owner/Management: Crane Bros, owners (continuing as Cranes Music Store)
  • 1967 Owner/Management: Liverpool Corporation, lessee
• Capacities
  • Original: 451
  • Later: 1970: 445
  • Current: 445
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Proscenium Rake 1:24
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 1997: 7.8m plus 2.29m forestage Width SL: 7.47m SR: 10.48m
  • Proscenium width: 1997:8.38m (26ft)
  • Height to grid: 10.36m
  • Orchestra pit: (since 1968) 16sq/m 2.29 in front of stage