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Haymarket Theatre Royal

934

The Haymarket is of great importance in theatre history. The first theatre to defy the monopoly of the patent houses, the ‘Little Theatre in the Hay’ (adjoining the present site) was built in 1720. It gained a limited patent in 1766-77 and was afterwards granted a special licence. The theatre was rebuilt on the present site by John Nash in 1821, closing the view from St James’s Square.

This is a much studied theatre, the subject of many books and papers but, so far, no detailed and authoritative architectural account has been published. The Survey of London (vol XX) is, for once, quite inadequate (compare the Survey’s outstandingly full account of Her Majesty’s Theatre, opposite). The building is, nevertheless, of exceptional interest in its own right and of great townscape value. It is one of the few pre-1880 theatre buildings in London and shares with Drury Lane Theatre Royal and the Lyceum the distinction of presenting a pre-Victorian external appearance.

The present stucco porticoed classical façade, rear elevation and much of the structural envelope are by Nash. The Suffolk Street elevation is designed as a stuccoed house front, domestic in conception apart from its tall scene door.

The auditorium is by Adshead (for Peach), 1905, completely replacing the Phipps auditorium of 1879-80 (Phipps had provided Bancroft with the first four-sided picture frame stage). Subsequent internal alterations to bars, etc, mainly by John Murray and sympathetic in character. The 1994 works to the auditorium constituted a careful restoration of Peach’s & Murray’s works.

The 1904 drawings show that the Peach works were limited to the public interiors with only minor improvements backstage. Beyond this, little seems to be later than mid-nineteenth century in date.

The auditorium has two balconies, the upper one extending back into a gallery of great interest and limited comfort, with padded benches. Architecturally and decoratively this is one of the most distinguished and brilliantly preserved interiors in London.

There are some traces of old stage machinery. The main roof space and stage house roof are still lit by dormers, but the property rooms and scene painting room have long been removed.

Built / Converted
1821
Dates of use
  • 1821 : continuing
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre
Address
Haymarket, London, Westminster, SW1Y 4HT, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
Haymarket or Hay-Market Theatre
Events
  • 1821 Owner/Management: David Morris
  • 1821 Use: continuing
  • 1821 Design/Construction:
    John Nash
    - Architect
  • 1837 - 1853 Alteration: various alterations, including widening of proscenium opening (architects unknown).
  • 1843 Alteration: forestage cut back & proscenium doors abolished (architect unknown).
  • 1848 Design/Construction:
    Mr Sang
    - Consultant
    decorations
  • 1853 Alteration: various improvements, front and back.
    G Somers Clarke
    - Architect
  • 1871 Alteration: redecorated in Pompeian style.
    G Somers Clarke
    - Architect
  • 1880 Design/Construction: auditorium rebuilt.
    C J Phipps
    - Architect
    Laing & Sons
    - Contractor
    Edward Bell
    - Consultant
    decorations
    George Jackson & Son
    - Consultant
    plasterwork
  • 1904 Design/Construction:
    Dawnay & Sons
    - Consultant
    steelwork
    Boekbinder Co
    - Consultant
    decorations
  • 1905 Alteration: interior rebuilt.
    J Jarvis & Sons
    - Contractor
    C Stanley Peach with S D Adshead
    - Architect
  • 1939 - 1941 Alteration: bars & cloakrooms improved.
    John Murray
    - Architect
  • 1994 Alteration: interior restored; stage improved.
    John Rowe-Parr
    - Architect
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1879: 1159
    1904: 978-1000
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    905
Listings
  • Listing
    I
Stage type
Pros raked
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: Depth: 12.8m Width SL: 7.32m SR: 7.01m upstage 8.3m downstage
Proscenium width: 8.23m
Height to grid: 15.85m
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: Orchestra pit