Shakespeare Theatre

• Theatre ID
  3356
• Built / Converted
  1896
• Dates of use
  • 1896 - 1923
• Current state
  Demolished
• Current use
  demolished (Shakespeare House now on site)
• Address
  168 Lavender Hill, Wandsworth, London, SW11 5TG, England

Details

Designed by Sprague, pictures show a somewhat domestic three-storey, three-bay façe greatly enlivened by the advanced central bay with entrance under a porch held aloft by Doric columns at either side and crowned by a pediment with stone carving of William Shakespeare; above, attic with balustrade and central gable holding a globe. The interior was elaborate with delicate plasterwork, bow-fronted boxes at either side of the proscenium, the upper boxes supported by caryatids. High square proscenium with corner features of plaster with figures and central emblem. The theatre became a cinema under the management of Clavering, and was later taken over by UPT. During the Second World War it was bombed, leaving just the façe. Plans were submitted for a new cinema, but were refused. In 1955 the site was claimed by a Compulsory Purchase Order and cleared in 1957 for an extension to Battersea Arts Centre. This was never built, however, and an office block (Shakespeare House) was later erected on the site.

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• Other names
  Shakespeare Theatre & Opera House
• Events
  • 1896 - 1923 Use:
  • 1896 Design/Construction:
    • Charles Gray Hill - Contractor
    • W G R Sprague - Architect
  • 1896 Owner/Management: William Bennett
  • 1907 Owner/Management: Henry Bennett
  • 1909 Owner/Management: William Bennett
  • 1912 Owner/Management: Frederic Baildon
  • 1913 Owner/Management: Thomas Baxter
  • 1914 - 1916 Owner/Management: Joseph Clozenberg
  • Owner/Management: later: Albert Clavering
  • 1928 Owner/Management: UPT
  • 1957 - 0 Demolition:
• Capacities
  • Original: 1205
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium
• Dimensions
  • Orchestra pit: Yes