Richmond Theatre (London)

Last updated

Richmond Theatre
1899 Richmond Theatre and Opera House
1902 Prince of Wales
1908 Richmond Hippodrome
Theatre Royal, Richmond
Theatre on the Green
Richmond Theatre portraitR.jpg
Richmond Theatre (London)
Location Richmond, London, England
Coordinates 51°27′43″N0°18′14″W / 51.4620°N 0.3038°W / 51.4620; -0.3038
Public transit Underground no-text.svg Overground roundel (no text).svg National Rail logo.svg Richmond
Owner Ambassador Theatre Group
Designation Grade II*
TypeProvincial
Capacity 840
Construction
Opened18 September 1899
Architect Frank Matcham
Website
Richmond Theatre website at Ambassador Theatre Group
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameRichmond Theatre
Designated28 June 1972
Reference no.1065384

The present Richmond Theatre, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is a British Victorian theatre located on Little Green, adjacent to Richmond Green. It opened on 18 September 1899 with a performance of As You Like It . One of the finest surviving examples of the work of theatre architect Frank Matcham, the building, in red brick with buff terracotta, is listed Grade II* by Historic England. [1] John Earl, writing in 1982, described it as "[o]f outstanding importance as the most completely preserved Matcham theatre in Greater London and one of his most satisfying interiors." [2]

Contents

History

Little Green, with Richmond Green seen in the distance Lilgreen.jpg
Little Green, with Richmond Green seen in the distance

The theatre, originally known as the Theatre Royal and Opera House, [3] is structured into the familiar stalls, dress and upper circles, with four boxes at dress level. The auditorium is a mixture of gilt detailing and red plush fabrics, covering seats and front of circles. Its interior and exterior has been used as a movie set in many films (e.g. Evita , Topsy-Turvy , standing in for the Victorian Savoy Theatre, Finding Neverland —doubling as the Duke of York's Theatre , National Treasure: Book of Secrets —setting of Ford's Theatre) and TV programmes (e.g. Jonathan Creek ).

In the early 1990s the theatre underwent a major overhaul overseen by the designer Carl Toms. This included a side extension giving more space for the audience and included a 'Matcham Room', today known as the Ambassador Lounge. The driving force behind the renovation of the theatre was Sally Greene, with strong support from Richmond upon Thames Council through its chief executive, Richard Harbord and Community Services Committee chairman Serge Lourie.

The theatre is now part of the Ambassador Theatre Group and has a weekly schedule of plays and musicals, alongside special music events and children's shows. Pre-West End productions can often be seen. There is a Christmas and New Year pantomime tradition and many of Britain's greatest music hall and pantomime performers have appeared there. The theatre also offers a range of creative learning activities for adults and children, including drama, creative writing and singing. [4]

January 2013 saw Richmond Theatre extend access in the community when Suzanne Shaw and Tim Vine starred in the pantomime Aladdin, by offering its first relaxed performance as part of a pilot scheme initiated by ATG. [5]

In 2016, the theatre was honoured with the People's Choice Award at The Richmond Business Awards. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Richmond upon Thames</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in southwest London, England, forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London Government Act 1963. It is governed by Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council and is divided into nineteen wards. The population is 198,019 and the major settlements are Barnes, East Sheen, Mortlake, Kew, Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington and Hampton.

Richmond is a town in south-west London, 8.2 miles (13.2 km) west-southwest of Charing Cross. It stands on the River Thames, and features many parks and open spaces, including Richmond Park, and many protected conservation areas, which include much of Richmond Hill. A specific Act of Parliament protects the scenic view of the River Thames from Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambassadors Theatre (London)</span> West End theatre in London

The Ambassadors Theatre, is a West End theatre located in West Street, near Cambridge Circus on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster. It is one of the smallest of the West End theatres, seating a maximum of 444, with 195 people in the dress circle and 251 in the stalls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Coliseum</span> Theatre in London, home to the English National Opera

The London Coliseum is a theatre in St Martin's Lane, Westminster, built as one of London's largest and most luxurious "family" variety theatres. Opened on 24 December 1904 as the London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties, it was designed by the architect Frank Matcham for the impresario Oswald Stoll. Their ambition was to build the largest and finest music hall, described as the "people's palace of entertainment" of its age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaiety Theatre, Dublin</span> Historic theatre in Dublin, Ireland

The Gaiety Theatre is a theatre on South King Street in Dublin, Ireland, off Grafton Street and close to St. Stephen's Green. It specialises in operatic and musical productions, with occasional dramatic shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theatre Royal, Newcastle</span>

The Theatre Royal is a historic theatre, a Grade I listed building situated on Grey Street in Newcastle upon Tyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buxton Opera House</span> Opera house in Buxton, England

Buxton Opera House is in The Square, Buxton, Derbyshire, England. It is a 902-seat opera house that hosts the annual Buxton Festival and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, among others, as well as pantomime at Christmas, musicals and other entertainments year-round. Hosting live performances until 1927, the theatre then was used mostly as a cinema until 1976. In 1979, it was refurbished and reopened as a venue for live performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Matcham</span> English theatre, music hall architect (1854–1920)

Francis Matcham was an English architect who specialised in the design of theatres and music halls. He worked extensively in London, predominantly under Moss Empires for whom he designed the Hippodrome in 1900, Hackney Empire (1901), Coliseum (1903) and Palladium (1910). His last major commission before retirement was the Victoria Palace Theatre (1911) for the variety magnate Alfred Butt. During his 40-year career, Matcham was responsible for the design and construction of over 90 theatres and the redesign and refurbishment of a further 80 throughout the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizens Theatre</span> Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland

The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and is based in Glasgow, Scotland as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat Main Auditorium, and has also included various studio theatres over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Wimbledon Theatre</span> Theatre in London, England

The New Wimbledon Theatre is situated on the Broadway, Wimbledon, London, in the London Borough of Merton. It is a Grade II listed Edwardian theatre built by the theatre lover and entrepreneur, J. B. Mulholland, who at the time was also owner of the King's Theatre in Hammersmith and had owned the Theatre Metropole in Camberwell in the 1890's. Built on the site of a large house with spacious grounds, the theatre was designed by Cecil Aubrey Massey and Roy Young. It seems to have been the only British theatre to have included a Victorian-style Turkish bath in the basement. The theatre opened on 26 December 1910 with the pantomime Jack and Jill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Theatre, Glasgow</span> Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland

The King's Theatre is located in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built for Howard & Wyndham Ltd under its chairman Baillie Michael Simons as a sister theatre of their Theatre Royal in the city and was designed by Frank Matcham, opening in 1904. The theatre is primarily a receiving house for touring musicals, dance, comedy and circus-type performances. The theatre also provides a prominent stage for local amateur productions. The King's Theatre also stages an annual pantomime, produced by First Family Entertainment. The theatre is currently operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group, under a lease from Glasgow City Council who own the building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theatre Royal, Nottingham</span>

The Theatre Royal in Nottingham, England, is a theatre venue in the heart of Nottingham City Centre and is owned by Nottingham City Council as part of a complex that also includes the city's Royal Concert Hall. The Theatre Royal attracts major touring dramas, opera, ballet, West End musicals and an annual pantomime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hackney Empire</span> Theatre on Mare Street in the London Borough of Hackney, London, England

Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in Hackney in the London Borough of Hackney. Originally designed by Frank Matcham it was built in 1901 as a music hall, and expanded in 2001. Described by The Guardian as "the most beautiful theatre in London" it is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York House, Twickenham</span> Municipal building in London, England

York House is a historic stately home in Twickenham, England, and currently serves as the Town Hall of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is situated in Richmond Road, near the centre of Twickenham, close to St Mary's Church. It is a Grade II* listed building which is situated in a large park, which is also listed.

The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), now rebranded to ATG Entertainment is a major international live entertainment organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom, with offices in Woking, London, New York, Sydney, Mannheim and Cologne. ATG's key operations comprise three inter-related activities: venue ownership and management, ticketing and marketing operations, and show productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Tree Theatre</span> Theatre in Richmond, London, England

The Orange Tree Theatre is a 180-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south-west London, which was built specifically as a theatre in the round. It is housed within a disused 1867 primary school, built in Victorian Gothic style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Theatre Royal</span> Theatre in Portsmouth, England

The New Theatre Royal is a Victorian Grade II* listed theatre in the heart of Portsmouth, England, with a capacity of 648. The theatre building was constructed in 1854 as Landport Hall. It was converted to a theatre two years later. It was rebuilt in 1884 by Charles J. Phipps and again in 1900 by Frank Matcham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Normansfield Hospital</span> Hospital in England

Normansfield Hospital is a Grade II* listed building in Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. It was built as a facility for patients with an intellectual disability and included a theatre. It now houses the national office of the Down's Syndrome Association, and the Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince's Theatre, Bristol</span>

The Prince's Theatre was a theatre on Park Row in Bristol in England which was built in 1867 and was destroyed by bombing in 1940 in the Bristol Blitz during World War II. Owned by members of the Chute family for most of its existence, at one time the theatre was the Bristol venue for many of the country's leading touring actors and theatrical companies in addition to being one of the most renowned pantomime houses in the country before briefly becoming a music hall and latterly a cinema. The actors Henry Irving and Ellen Terry made their last appearance together under Irving's management at the Prince's Theatre in The Merchant of Venice in 1902.

References

  1. Historic England (28 June 1972). "Richmond Theatre (1065384)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. Earl, John. Contributor to Curtains!!! or a New Life for Old Theatres, John Offord Publications Ltd (London 1982) ISBN   0903931427
  3. "Richmond Theatre – History of Richmond Theatre Richmond, London". ATG Tickets. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  4. "Creative Learning & Community Partnerships". ATG Tickets. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  5. "Access".
  6. "Richmond Business Awards 2016 – Richmond Upon Thames Chamber Of Commerce". Richmond Upon Thames Chamber Of Commerce. Retrieved 23 May 2017.

Sources

Further reading