Hippodrome (London)

• Theatre ID
  2006
• Built / Converted
  1900
• Dates of use
  • 1900 - 1958: ?
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Licensed premises (nightclub)
• Address
  Hippodrome Corner, Cranbourne Street, Westminster, London, WC2H, England

Details

Originally built for Edward Moss as a Hippodrome for circuses, it had a vast tank for water spectacles. The sight lines were adjusted to suit both circus arena and proscenium action. The 1909 works enlarged the stage and advanced the proscenium to suit the theatre for variety rather than circus and, from 1912, revue. The Hippodrome occupies an island site with principal elevations to Charing Cross Road and Cranbourne Street, and contains, in addition to the theatre, ground floor shops on the main frontages, with Cranbourne Mansions in the upper storeys. Elevations in red sandstone, red brick and terracotta in a free classical style, the bays divided by giant Ionic pilasters supported on elongated brackets which occupy the full height of the first floor, the pilasters rising through the second and third floors to carry a weakly accented fourth floor attic storey and a crowning balustrade. There were formerly giant figures of Roman soldiers above. Most bays have canted windows rising from terms and linked by a balustrade at second floor level. The corner bay is framed by giant Ionic engaged columns carrying entablature blocks and an open pediment, above which rises a short but floridly detailed tower with a skeletal iron dome crowned by a lively sculptured group of a chariot with rearing horses. Giant letters with the name of the theatre on the Little Newport Street front. In 1959, the old iron and glass entrance canopy was replaced by one of no distinction. Matcham’s gorgeous auditorium was utterly ravished in the 1958 conversion works but some traces of its original character could still be seen in the upper reaches above the suspended ceiling. Cabaret use (as ‘The Talk of the Town’) seemed preferable to total loss in the 1950s, but it is a great pity that consent was ever given to the present use, in which live music or acting (other than miming to a sound track) are not significant elements. This may even now be regarded as a recoverable theatre. Not quite as big as it looks, but a theatre potentially suitable for grand musical productions in this position, at the very heart of Theatreland, is an obvious candidate for reawakening.

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• Other names
  Hippodrome Theatre, Talk of the Town
• Events
  • 1900 - 1958 Use: ?
  • 1900 Design/Construction:
    • Frank Matcham - Architect
  • 1909 Alteration: converted to variety theatre
    • Frank Matcham - Architect
  • 1958 Alteration: converted to cabaret restaurant
    • E M Lawson & George Pine - Architect
  • 1983 Alteration: conversion to discotheque
    • Paul Roberts - Architect
  • Owner/Management: Built for Edward Moss. For managements up to 1947, see Diana Howard op cit.
• Capacities
  • Original: 2020
  • Later: 1912: 4000 (!!)
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth 1912: 40ft
  • Proscenium width: 1912: 44ft
  • Orchestra pit: None