Shaftesbury (London)

• Theatre ID
  2029
• Built / Converted
  1911
• Dates of use
  • 1911: continuing (with short breaks)
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  210 Shaftesbury Avenue, Camden, London, WC2H 8DP, England
• Website
  • http://www.shaftesbury-theatre.co.uk

Details

The Shaftesbury (ex Princes) was the northernmost and, in point of time, the last of the eight pre-Great War theatres built in Shaftesbury Avenue. The theatre occupies a prominent corner site and is viewed across a wide road junction. Its terracotta faced elevations, however, are in a quite subdued Baroque manner, the corner tower making a punctuation of spirited but unmonumental character. Good foyers. Spacious auditorium with two cantilevered balconies (the upper circle is the front section of the former gallery), the fronts varied in both form and treatment. Uninhibited plaster decoration, robust rather than elegant, but producing a splendidly theatrical atmosphere. Rectangular ceiling with enriched cove and cornice and circular flat-domed centre. Segmental proscenium arch with figure reliefs in spandrels over. Bow-fronted boxes paired in two tiers and magnificently framed by elegant Ionic columns rising from heavy console brackets and carrying an entablature, the whole composition crowned by a semi-circular arch. In the arch tympanum a sculptural group is set on an elaborate pedestal over each upper box. The auditorium was designed with a sliding roof to give an instant air change when required. Designed as a melodrama house this theatre has had a varied history and was dogged by misfortune for some years. After the run of 'Hair' (1968-73) its survival appeared to be in doubt. A ceiling fall in the auditorium in 1973 necessitated closure and seemed likely to lead to the demolition of the theatre. It was then, however, added to the statutory list and the ceiling was eventually restored and the theatre reopened. The Shaftesbury was an early battle honour for the Save London’s Theatres Campaign. In the 1990s it served the Royal Opera House during its exile.

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• Other names
  New Prince’s, Prince’s
• Events
  • 1911 Use: continuing (with short breaks)
  • 1911 Design/Construction:
    • Bertie Crewe - Architect
  • 1980 - 0 Alteration: roof altered to accommodate counterweight system.
    • Dowton & Hurst - Architect
  • 1988 - 1993 Alteration: minor internal alterations.
    • Dowton & Hurst - Architect
  • 1997 - 0 Alteration: orchestra pit enlarged; other minor alterations.
    • Dowton & Hurst - Architect
  • Owner/Management: See Diana Howard, op. cit. for managements to 1950
• Capacities
  • Original: 2392
  • Later: 1946: 1730 1970: 1300
  • Current: 1305
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Proscenium Flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: d: 8.48m (27ft 10in) min
  • Proscenium width: 9.75m (32ft)
  • Height to grid: 15.39m (50ft 6in)
  • Orchestra pit: Enlarged