Kingston Empire

• Theatre ID
  768
• Built / Converted
  1910
• Dates of use
  • 1910 - 1955
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (pub and offices)
• Address
  Clarence Street, Kingston upon Thames, London, KT1, England

Details

After a false start in 1907 the theatre was then built to the designs of Bertie Crewe, and opened in October 1910. The theatre had a fine interior. The exterior was in modern English Renaissance style in terra cotta and red brick. There was an ornamental wrought iron and coloured glass verandah, and a turret at the south east elevation which was lit at night and could be seen from many parts of the town. In 1930, the theatre was bought by Kingshott Theatres, and was refurbished. Neon lighting was introduced to light the dome, the second theatre in the country to do this (the first being the London Coliseum). The theatre continued the policy of twice-nightly variety into the 1950s when business declined so much with the popularity of TV, that it finally closed in 1955. It was auctioned, but failed to meet the reserve price and was later bought by an investment company, and the interior was gutted and a supermarket opened in 1956. Today, it is easily recognisable as a theatre, the upper storeys preserved, and used as offices, make the shell of the building unchanged, save for the street level and the tower. The word EMPIRE is picked out in brick, and many exits at the side and rear are preserved, though some are bricked up. Since Wetherspoons acquired the area previously used as a shop, much of the foyer plasterwork has been revealed and restored.

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• Other names
  New Empire
• Events
  • 1910 - 1955 Use:
  • 1910 Design/Construction: with C J Bourne
    • Bertie Crewe - Architect
  • 1930 Alteration: completely refurbished; pit and stalls merged; neon introduced to light tower
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1956 Alteration: gutted internally for supermarket and offices
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1909 Owner/Management: Clarence Sounes, proprietor and manager. Nichols (builder) thought to be owner
  • 1928 Owner/Management: Kingshott Theatres Ltd Director Stanley Watson, owners
  • 1955 Owner/Management: Investment Co (unknown) owners
• Capacities
  • Original: 2000
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Pros. Raked
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 29ft Width SL: 24ft 6in SR: 24ft 6in
  • Proscenium width: 31ft x 40ft
  • Height to grid: 47ft 6in Flying height 23ft; 50 hemp lines
  • Orchestra pit: Original 15