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Broadway Theatre

3239

A close architectural relative of (and in no way inferior to) the same architect’s Gielgud, Novello and Aldwych. Portland stone classical façade, with Sprague’s favourite motif of a curved corner treated as an engaged domed tower with giant order of Corinthian columns with enriched shafts. Auditorium with two balconies and typically French flavour. Above the proscenium was the extraordinary detail of a scrolly pediment broken by a projecting ships prow, said to be Drake’s ‘Pelican’ and, like the act drop painting of Peter the Great working in the dockyard, symbolic of Deptford’s ship building tradition. The Broadway was a serious loss of the post-war years.

Built / Converted
1897
Dates of use
Current state
Demolished
Current use
Demolished
Address
Broadway, New Cross, London, Lewisham, SE14, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
Century , Broadway Cinema
Events
  • 1897 Design/Construction:
    W G R Sprague
    - Architect
    S J Waring & Sons
    - Consultant
    decoration
    D T White
    - Consultant
    act drop (after Seymour Lucas)
    Wingfield Bowles
    - Consultant
    electrical work
  • 1912 Owner/Management: by Moss Empires
  • 1959 Alteration: dome lantern removed (architect unknown).
  • 1964 Demolition:
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    2500
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1912: 2500
    1372
Listings
  • Listing
    Not listed
Stage type
-
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: d: 40ft
Proscenium width: w: 30ft
Height to grid: -
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: -