Piccadilly

• Theatre ID
  2039
• Built / Converted
  1928
• Dates of use
  • 1928: continuing (with short breaks as cinema)
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  16 Denman Street, Westminster, London, W1D 7DY, England
• Website
  • Ambassador Theatre Group - Piccadilly

Details

A theatre on one of the West End’s less prominent sites. Façe in eleven bays with right hand end curving at the junction of Sherwood and Denman Streets. Looking like stone, but actually in white cement, the ground floor takes the form of a rusticated arcade under a projecting canopy. Above this, two channelled storeys are united by giant pilasters carrying an entablature with a sheer attic storey above. Entrance foyer walnut-panelled. Auditorium with two balconies and square architrave-framed proscenium. In 1979 a movable ceiling was installed which could be lowered to reduce the capacity of the house by closing off the Grand Circle. This is still present (2003) oncealing the original domed ceiling, but it is never used. Early Vitaphone sound movies were shown at the Piccadilly in the year of its opening. It has had a slightly chequered history but in recent years has remained a mainstream theatre.

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• Events
  • Owner/Management: Now a Mayfair group theatre
  • Owner/Management: For licensees from 1928-1945, see Diana Howard, op. cit.
  • Owner/Management: Built for the Piccadilly Theatre Company
  • 1928 Design/Construction:
    • Marc-Henri & Laverdet - Consultant: Interior Decorations
  • 1928 Use: continuing (with short breaks as cinema)
  • 1928 Design/Construction:
    • Bertie Crewe with Edward Stone - Architect
  • 1955 Alteration: redecorated
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1959 Owner/Management: Donald Albery (Ian Albery, manager)
  • 1962 Alteration: redecorated
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1968 Alteration: improvements, including modular stage
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1979 Alteration: installation of moving ceiling
    • Peter Moro Partners - Architect
  • 1979 Design/Construction:
  • 1982 Alteration: temporary alterations to accommodate dining tables in auditorium and use for cabaret performances
    • Unknown - Architect
• Capacities
  • Later: 1950: 1500 1965: 1150 1970: 1193
  • Current: 1232
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium Flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 11.58m (38ft)
  • Proscenium width: 9.7m (31ft 9in)
  • Height to grid: 16.5m (54ft 3in)
  • Orchestra pit: Flexible