Woolwich Grand Theatre

• Theatre ID
  2329
• Built / Converted
  2011
• Dates of use
  • 1900 - 1923
  • 1985 - 2010: leased and used as nightclub.
  • 1955 - 1982: as cinema
  • 2011: continuing - as theatre.
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Arts Centre (Cinema 1955-1982; nightclub 1985-2010; opening as cinema, theatre and music venue 2011)
• Address
  38 Wellington Street, Woolwich, Greenwich, London, SE18 6PE, England
• Website
  • The Woolwich Grand Theatre

Details

Considering the size of its employed population and the substantial army presence, Woolwich was surprisingly late in acquiring a large theatre to rival the ageing Royal and the quasi-theatrical concert room (later reconstructed as a theatre) in the Royal Artillery barracks. There was a proposal, before the turn of the century, for a Grand Theatre in Moorish style in Beresford Square by Frank Matcham, but this was never built. Crewe's Grand Theatre and Opera House, opened by Sir Henry Irving in 1900, was a little apart from the busiest area of town, on a site adjoining the Town Hall. It presented drama, musical comedy, opera and, later, variety. By 1923 it had become a cinema with a Compton organ installed. Taken over by ABC in 1935, it was closed in 1939 and demolished for the building of a new cinema, but this was not completed (as the Regal) until 1955. The Crewe theatre had a broad front in brick with stone dressings; five major bays (2+2+3+2+2) the centre and outer bays being three storeys with tall iron-crested pavilion roofs, the intermediate bays a storey lower with pitched roofs behind parapets. The central entrance was approached by a flight of steps. Busts of dramatists at high level. No illustrations of the interior have yet been located. Although construction commenced, war prevented the W R Glen designed ABC from being completed. As a shell, it was requisitioned for storage. In 1955, it was completed to re-designed plans of C J Foster. Closed in 1982, it was purchased by the Borough of Greenwich who planned to re-open it as a live theatre. However, it was eventually leased and opened as a nightclub in 1985. Nightclub use ceased due to loss of licence, and in 2010 the building was sold to a church group. The church backed out, however, and in June 2011 the building was sold to a community group who are re-opening the building as a cinema, theatre and music venue.

Hide all images

See all images

Hide further details

• Other names
  Woolwich Hippodrome, Grand Theatre & Opera House, Regal Cinema, Flamingos, ABC
• Events
  • 1900 - 1923 Use:
  • 1900 Design/Construction:
    • Messrs W Johnson & Co - Contractor
    • Bertie Crewe - Architect
  • 1900 Owner/Management: Clarence Sounes
  • 1908 Owner/Management: Walter Gibbons
  • 1913 Owner/Management: Charles Gulliver
  • 1923 Owner/Management: United Picture Theatres
  • 1935 Owner/Management: ABC
  • 1939 Demolition: for new cinema (Regal - not built until 1955).
  • 1955 Design/Construction: as Regal Cinema - Glen's plans re-designed by Foster.
    • C J Foster - Architect
    • W R Glen - Architect
  • 1955 - 1982 Use: as cinema
  • 1982 Owner/Management: purchased by London Borough of Greenwich for conversion to live theatre.
  • 1985 - 2010 Use: leased and used as nightclub.
  • 2011 Use: continuing - as theatre.
• Capacities
  • Original: 1680
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium
• Unreliable anecdotes
  Not to be confused with an earlier Grand Theatre, designed by Frank Matcham for a site in Beresford Square but never built.