Elephant And Castle

• Theatre ID
  3344
• Built / Converted
  1879
• Dates of use
  • 1872 - 1928
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Music venue (cinema after 1928)
• Address
  26/28 New Kent Road, Lambeth, London, SE1, England

Details

There was a drama theatre on the site from 1872. The 1879 rebuild was the first theatre completed by Matcham after Robinson's death. The 1932 building, which incorporated only fragments of the earlier theatre, was designed by W R Glen, and was built in partnership with ABC. Narrow façe on New Kent Road, now obscured with cladding, the bulk of the building rises behind in brown brick, almost to railway arches at one side. Although designed with full fly tower and stage facilities, access for very large vehicles at rear is impossible and inspection finds no evidence of large get-in doors, and so the venue was probably designed for concert/musical live events as well as for cinema, but the stage facilities were rarely used until the 2003 restoration. The auditorium, originally two-tier, is typical of Glen: a large lay-light in the ceiling, large square proscenium incorporating grille-work and modern, clean lines. The main features have been restored and the venue now operates as a multi-purpose music venue with lighting, projection and recording facilities with a funky feel. Without this new-found use, the building, which had been subdivided and run-down in recent years, would certainly have been lost.

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• Other names
  Theatre Royal, Elephant & Castle Music Hall, ABC, Cannon, Coronet
• Events
  • 1872 - 1928 Use:
  • 1872 - 0 Design/Construction:
    • Dean, Son & Matthews - Architect
    • Giles Bennett - Contractor
  • 1879 - 0 Design/Construction: completed by Frank Matcham
    • Brass & Co - Contractor
    • Pashley, North & Young - Consultant
    • Jethro T Robinson - Architect
  • 1902 - 0 Alteration: partial restoration (architect unknown).
  • 1932 - 0 Design/Construction: new supercinema built.
    • W R Glen - Architect
  • 1941 - 0 Alteration: refurbished after bomb damage (architect unknown).
  • 1967 - 0 Alteration: modernised (architect unknown).
  • 1981 - 0 Alteration: tripled (architect unknown).
  • 2003 - 0 Alteration: de-tripled, interior and stage facilities restored.
    • Kracha - Architect
  • Owner/Management: Union
  • Owner/Management: ABC
  • Owner/Management: Cannon
  • Owner/Management: Coronet
  • Owner/Management: The Pure Group
• Capacities
  • Later: 1932: 2315
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium flat