Shelley Theatre

The house was purchased in 1849 by Sir Percy Florence Shelley, the son and only surviving child of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his second wife Mary Shelley, author of "Frankenstein". This is one of two private theatres built by Sir Percy. The other, behind his town house in Tite Street, Chelsea was demolished many years ago. Sir Percy carried out major building and alteration works at Boscombe Manor between about 1850 and 1879. Around 1850, he built a temporary theatre in the garden and this was replaced in 1866 by the present room. Amongst his favourite pastimes were theatricals and painting and he doubtless had a hand in the detailed design and decoration of the theatre. Descriptions of the scenes for various productions make it apparent that an ambitious standard was achieved. Much of the scenic painting and musical composition was carried out by Sir Percy himself. Nearly all private theatres were built with flat floors so that they could double as ballrooms or grand dining rooms. This one was intended to seat 300 and was a more colourful room than it appears now, since the walls were lined with mural paintings. Now absent, these are said to have been removed for safe keeping during the 1939-45 war, but no evidence has yet been found to confirm this. The raked stage had wood machinery, but this was destroyed in later years to make space for a boiler room. The proscenium arch was blocked and the swagged pelmet and tabs as well as the painted act drop representing Poole Harbour are lost. An interesting curiosity is a window in the rear wall from a bedroom on the other side, from which, it was said, his wife, Lady Jane Shelley, could enjoy the presentations in privacy and comfort. Even in its altered condition, the Shelley remains a rare and valuable example of a mid-Victorian private theatre. Initial refurbishment of the theatre was undertaken in 2010 after a change in ownership which has allowed public performances to again take place including a production of "Frankenstein".