Sadler's Wells

• Theatre ID
  2037
• Built / Converted
  1683
• Dates of use
  • 1683 - 0: (as a music house), then 1753-1906; 1931-1940; 1945 continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (Theatre and dance house)
• Address
  Rosebery Avenue, Islington, London, EC1R 4TN, England
• Website
  • http://www.sadlers-wells.com

Details

A wooden 'musick house' was erected on the site in 1683, after discovery of medicinal wells in the grounds of Thomas Sadler. As a location, therefore, the Wells's record of almost continuous occupation by an entertainment house is exceeded only by that of Drury Lane. It presented, at various times, popular work of outstanding elaboration and quality with, for example, Charles Dibdin's nautical dramas, the great clown Grimaldi and spectacular pantomimes, but its career was as erratic and hazardous as that of any other 'minor' and it was not until the breaking of the Patent Theatres monopoly in 1843 that it became a mainstream theatre under Samuel Phelps. His productions of Shakespeare made theatre history. After a number of ups and downs, it became a music hall in 1893, then a cinema. In 1906 it fell into dereliction. Acquired (in the 1920s) by a charity initiated by Lilian Baylis, it was completely rebuilt and opened in 1931 in harness with the Old Vic and with the same policy of bringing quality theatre to the people. From 1934 it was dedicated to opera and ballet. Closed during World War II, it reopened in 1945. Sadler's Wells was one of the first theatres in London to be protected by inclusion in the Statutory List, an honour which must have been bestowed more in recognition of the historic 'holy ground' reputation of the site (and its wells) than for reasons of architectural quality. Chancellor's 1931 building was, as to external appearances, a mildly interesting product of its uncertain period, but the auditorium suffered from the distancing effect of bare side walls and a stage which seemed to be viewed across a chasm. What visual attraction it had was finally put paid to by Bagenal's acoustic canopy which obscured the relief panel over the proscenium arch. The wing space on stage left was always cruelly restricted for what had become one of the nation's most respected dance houses. Thankfully, few tears were shed over this rather cheerless building and there was no official resistance to almost total rebuilding when the National Lottery provided the opportunity to create a theatre worthy of the companies seen here. Although a surprising amount of the old fabric actually survived the 1996-8 works this is, in all essentials, a completely new theatre with greatly improved audience/stage relationship and a totally rebuilt stage house. The 1988 Lilian Baylis Theatre remains as its separate, closely-related 221-seat studio. A fully researched architectural history of the various Wells theatres is long overdue, including, as it would, Cabanel's historically important 1802 reconstruction and its subsequent evolution. Where will we find a Leacroft or a Southern to do it?

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• Other names
  Sadler's Wells Musick House, Miles's Musick House
• Events
  • 1683 - 0 Use: (as a music house), then 1753-1906; 1931-1940; 1945 continuing
  • 1683 - 0 Design/Construction: as wooden music house (architect unknown).
  • 1765 - 0 Design/Construction: first theatre on site.
    • Thomas Rosoman (builder) - Architect
  • 1772 - 0 Alteration: interior remodelled (architect unknown).
  • 1802 - 0 Design/Construction: completely reconstructed auditorium.
    • Rudolphe Cabanel - Architect
  • 1838 - 0 Alteration: major alterations (architect unknown).
  • 1879 - 0 Design/Construction: interior remodelled.
    • C J Phipps - Architect
  • 1901 - 0 Alteration: partly remodelled.
    • Bertie Crewe - Architect
  • 1931 - 0 Design/Construction: rebuilt.
    • F G M, Chancellor, Matcham & Co - Architect
  • 1938 - 0 Alteration: extended and improved after aquisition of additional land.
    • Stanley Hall, Easton & Robertson - Architect
  • 1960 - 0 Alteration: wardrobe accommodation improved, and other works (architect unknown).
  • 1988 - 0 Alteration: Lilian Baylis Theatre added.
    • Wolff Olins Hamilton - Consultant
    • Chamberlin, Powell & Bon - Architect
  • 1998 - 0 Design/Construction: radical reconstruction and improvements.
    • RHWL with Nicholas Hare - Architect
  • 1959 - 0 Alteration: proscenium altered.
    • Martin Card - Architect
    • Hope Bagenal - Consultant: Acoustic Consultant
  • 1684 - 0 Owner/Management: (date unknown) Forcer & Miles
  • 1683 Owner/Management: Thomas Sadler & Francis Forcer
  • 1743 Owner/Management: John Warren
  • 1746 Owner/Management: Thomas Rosoman
  • 1772 Owner/Management: Thomas King, Charles Dibdin and others
  • 1804 Owner/Management: Charles Dibdin
  • 1832 Owner/Management: Fanny Fitzwilliam & W H Williams
• Listings
  • Grade II