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Vaudeville

1991

The Vaudeville, like many of London's earlier West End theatres, suffers from a constricted site which allows for little in the way of improvements unless additional property is acquired (a move which may be highly unlikely at today's West End land prices, but should nevertheless be kept in view). In 1882, Captain Shaw estimated that the safe capacity was 792 at a time when the management was claiming nearly double that. The modern figure of 690, in a slightly larger auditorium, gives some indication of the trend over the ensuing century for theatres to become more comfortably (and safely) seated.

The second front supplied by Phipps in 1891, as an alteration to his 1870 theatre, remains with little obvious change, apart from the canopy, which dates from shortly after Robert Atkinson's 1926 reconstruction. This Strand façade is in stone, four storeys in height, five windows wide, with a balustraded front to an arcaded first floor loggia (now glazed) and rather domestic-looking windows with thin Italianate detail above. Parapet originally had central panelled blocking crowned by pediment. Atkinson carried out major alterations behind, and gave the rear elevation to Maiden Lane an elegant façade in an Adamesque manner, built in yellow brick and stone with a fan lunette, all contained under a brick arch.

The auditorium is rectangular, two balconies with neo-Adam ornament. The rear stalls have some cut-off, as a reminder of the existence of a benched pit in Phipps's theatre. Although largely Atkinson's work (1926), the cove and ceiling date from Phipps's 1891 building.

Some wooden machinery still existed in 1972 above and below stage, including a thunder sheet and thunder drum.

For a full account of building history of the site see Survey of London, Vol XXXVI p 243-5.

Built / Converted
1870
Dates of use
  • 1870 : Theatre, continuing
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre
Address
404 Strand, London, Westminster, WC2R 0NH, England
Further details
Other names
-
Events
  • Owner/Management: Originally built for William Wybrow Robinson
  • 1870 Design/Construction:
    C J Phipps
    - Architect
    George Gordon
    - Consultant
    decorations
  • 1870 Use: Theatre, continuing
  • 1887 Alteration: altered.
    C J Phipps
    - Architect
  • 1891 Alteration: front rebuilt; auditorium altered.
    C J Phipps
    - Architect
  • 1892 - 1969 Owner/Management: Gatti family, owners
  • 1897 Alteration: pedimented canopy added to Strand front (architect unknown).
  • 1926 Design/Construction: substantially, but not completely, rebuilt; extended at rear.
    Robert Atkinson
    - Architect
  • 1927 Alteration: Strand canopy replaced (architect unknown).
  • 1969 - 1983 Owner/Management: Peter Saunders, owner
  • 1983 - 1996 Owner/Management: Michael Codron, owner
  • 1996 - 2001 Owner/Management: Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen
  • 2001 Owner/Management: Max Weitzenhoffer/Nimax Theatres Ltd, owner, continuing
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    1046
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1891: 1500 plus
    1926: 1376
    1971: 657
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    690
Listings
  • Listing
    II
Stage type
Proscenium Raked
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: Depth: av. 9m Width SL: 5.46m SR: 5.92m (downstage)
Proscenium width: 7.26m
Height to grid: 14.33m
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: Original 15-20