Westminster

• Theatre ID
  2042
• Built / Converted
  1931
• Dates of use
  • 1931 - 1990
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  demolished (new build in construction)
• Address
  Palace Street, Westminster, London, SW1E 5JA, England

Details

A theatre with an extraordinary evolutionary history. There was a chapel of 1766 (the Charlotte Chapel) on the site which fell into disuse in 1921 and was refronted and altered to open in 1924 as a cinema. Major alterations were made in 1931 before reopening as a theatre. Further remodellings and additions took place in 1966 and 1972. It was refronted in 1966 with simple geometrical forms and with what looked a grey rock-face. From 1960 it was controlled by the MRA and run as a theatre until it fell dark in 1990, after which the owners sought a purchaser. Its future seemed uncertain from that time. In its final form the theatre had a complex of rooms surrounding it, including a second 105 seat flat-floored theatre and separable (and lettable) office or studio space. The theatre stands at an interesting kink in Palace Street, comfortably placed next door to a pub. The Westminster has always seemed a little off the edge of West End Theatreland, but there is no reason why a fringe theatre should not succeed in this position. Following a planning appeal and a public inquiry in 2002, redevelopment was permitted, provided a theatre purpose-designed for an active company was incorporated. However complex issues led to major delays in the initial site development, and changing personnel (developers and potential theatre companies) have led to further delays. In 2010 the shell is constructed but final designs and fit-out still to proceed.

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• Other names
  St James's Picture Theatre
• Events
  • 1924 Design/Construction: as a ciné-theatre
    • J Stanley Beard - Architect
  • 1931 - 1990 Use:
  • 1931 Design/Construction: remodelled as a theatre.
    • Molly MacArthur - Consultant: Internal Decorations
    • Arnold Dunbar-Smith - Architect
  • 1960 Owner/Management: The Moral Rearmament movement (MRA) took over control.
  • 1966 Alteration: remodelled internally and externally; additions on south east side (in Palace Street).
    • John & Sylvia Reid - Architect
  • 1972 Alteration: two additional floors erected over auditorium.
    • John & Sylvia Read - Architect
  • 2002 Alteration: damaged by fire.
  • 2004 Demolition: with Section 106 agreement ensuring replacement.
• Capacities
  • Later: 1946: 655 1970: 603
  • Current: 585 (main house)
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed - Certificates of immunity granted 1992 & 1997
• Stage type
  • Proscenium Raked
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: c.5-6m
  • Proscenium width: 8.93m
  • Height to grid: 10.67m