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Latitude: 51.507 / 51°30'25"N
Longitude: -0.1236 / 0°7'25"W
OS Eastings: 530318
OS Northings: 180345
OS Grid: TQ303803
Mapcode National: GBR JF.DY
Mapcode Global: VHGQZ.TD02
Plus Code: 9C3XGV4G+RG
Entry Name: Playhouse Theatre
Listing Date: 9 January 1970
Last Amended: 1 December 1987
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1356962
English Heritage Legacy ID: 209379
Also known as: Royal Avenue Theatre
Avenue Theatre
Avenue Playhouse
ID on this website: 101356962
Location: London, Westminster, London, WC2N
County: London
District: City of Westminster
Electoral Ward/Division: St James's
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: City of Westminster
Traditional County: Middlesex
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Greater London
Church of England Parish: St Martin-in-the-Fields
Church of England Diocese: London
Tagged with: Theatre
TO 3080 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER CRAVEN STREET, WC2
83/46
9.1.70 Playhouse Theatre
G.V. II
Theatre. 1881-82 by F.H. Fowler as the Royal Avenue Theatre, interior
reconstructed 1906-07 by Blow and Billerey. Painted stone, concealed
roof. Restrained and elegant classical design. 2 storeys. 11 windows
wide with curved south east end. Ground floor doorways grouped to corner
under canopy, and blind architraved and corniced windows in rusticated
ground floor articulated by modified Corinthian pilasters supporting
entablature. The tall upper storey has architraved windows with
pediments on consoles and blind oculi above, articulated by giant
pilasters supporting full entablature and balustraded parapet. The
interior is an elegant exercise in Blow and Billerey's Louis XV manner:
kidney-shaped outer foyer with cresting of ribboned sprigs to inner
archway; panelled inner foyer with cartouche-trophy of musical
instruments; the auditorium has basket-arch proscenium set in deep reveal
framing the boxes, the arch surmounted by an achievement of figures of
Fame crowning Thalia; kidney-shaped lower and upper balconies, the lower
continuing the line of the upper boxes, all with turned baluster fronts;
caryatids flank the (former) lower boxes, supporting upper ones; sweeping
basket arch frames uppermost part of auditorium; circular dome and oval
panel of ceiling and the basket arch wall panels all decorated in
grisaille. Stage machinery probably dating from 1906-07 reconstruction.
The Theatres of London; Mander and Mitchenson.
Listing NGR: TQ3031880345
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