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Phoenix Theatre, London

The Phoenix Theatre is a West End theatre in the London Borough of Camden, located in Charing Cross Road (on the corner of Flitcroft Street). The entrances are on Phoenix Street and Charing Cross Road. The Phoenix Theatre was built on the site of a former factory and then music hall Alcazar before.[1]

Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix Theatre in 2007
AddressCharing Cross Road
London, WC2
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′52″N 0°07′46″W / 51.514444°N 0.129556°W / 51.514444; -0.129556
Public transit Tottenham Court Road
OwnerAmbassador Theatre Group
TypeWest End theatre
Capacity1,012 on 3 levels
Construction
Opened24 September 1930; 93 years ago (1930-09-24)
ArchitectGiles Gilbert Scott, Bertie Crewe and Cecil Masey
Website
thephoenixtheatre.co.uk

Description Edit

Built for Sidney Bernstein, Baron Bernstein, the theatre was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Bertie Crewe and Cecil Massey. It has a restrained neoclassical exterior, but an interior designed in an Italianate style by director and designer Theodore Komisarjevsky. Vladimir Polunin copied works by Tintoretto, Titian, Pinturicchio, and Giorgione. It has a safety curtain that holds Jacopo del Sellaio's The Triumph of Love.[2]

There are golden engravings in the auditorium, and red seats, carpets and curtains. This look is based on traditional Italian theatres. There are decorated ceilings and sculpted wooden doors throughout the building.

It opened on 24 September 1930 with the premiere of Private Lives by Noël Coward, who also appeared in the play, with Adrienne Allen, Gertrude Lawrence and Laurence Olivier. Coward returned to the theatre with Tonight at 8.30, a series of ten[3] plays, in 1936 and Quadrille in 1952.

On 16 December 1969, the long association with Coward was celebrated with a midnight matinee in honour of his 70th birthday, and the foyer bar was renamed the Noel Coward Bar.

Productions Edit

The Phoenix has had a number of successful plays including Norman Ginsbury's Viceroy Sarah in 1935, and John Gielgud's Love for Love during the Second World War. Harlequinade and The Browning Version, two plays by Terence Rattigan, opened on 8 September 1948 at the theatre. In 1950, it staged Frederick Lonsdale's final play The Way Things Go.

In the mid-1950s, Paul Scofield and Peter Brook appeared at the theatre. In 1968, a musical version of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales opened and ran for around two thousand performances. Night and Day, a 1978 play by Tom Stoppard, ran for two years.

The theatre hosted many musicals in the 1980s and 1990s, including The Biograph Girl with Sheila White, The Baker's Wife by Stephen Schwartz directed by Trevor Nunn, and Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, starring Julia McKenzie. There were also a number of plays by William Shakespeare. Its first pantomime was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Dana in 1983.

The production of Blood Brothers, the Willy Russell musical that transferred from The Albery Theatre in November 1991, ended a 21-year run on 10 November 2012 after becoming the longest-running production at the theatre. Following limited engagements of Goodnight Mr Tom and Midnight Tango. The theatre then played host to the original West End production of Broadway musical Once, which opened in April 2013 and closed on 21 March 2015.

Bend it Like Beckham: The Musical, Guys and Dolls and The Last Tango played in 2016, with Dirty Dancing and Peppa Pig's Surprise comprising the 2016 Christmas season.

The Girls, a musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth based on The Calendar Girls film, played at the Phoenix Theatre with previews from 28 January 2017, and officially opened on 21 February 2017. The production closed on 15 July 2017.[4]

Chicago the Musical opened at the Phoenix Theatre on 11 April 2018, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Billy Flynn, Sarah Soetaert as Roxie Hart, Josefina Gabrielle as Velma Kelly, and Ruthie Henshall as Mama Morton.[5] A cast change saw Martin Kemp take over the role of Billy Flynn, with Alexandra Burke as Roxie Hart, Mazz Murray as Mama Morton. Denise Van Outen was due to take over as Velma Kelly however a foot injury meant that Josefina Gabrielle returned to the role.[6][7] The show closed on 5 January 2019.

In June 2018, it was announced that the hit Broadway musical Come from Away would transfer to the Phoenix, which it did in February 2019. The production closed on 7 January 2023.[8]

The theatre is owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group. Since 1973 it has been a Grade II Listed Building.[9]

See also Edit

References Edit

Citations
  1. ^ "The Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2". www.arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. ^ Limited, London Theatre Direct. "Phoenix Theatre". London Theatre Direct.
  3. ^ The theatre programme on the night
  4. ^ Shenton, Mark (16 September 2016). "The Girls, Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, to Premiere in West End". Playbill. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  5. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (16 February 2018). "Ruthie Henshall, Sarah Soetaert, and Josefina Gabrielle to star in Chicago". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  6. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (24 July 2018). "Alexandra Burke joins the cast of Chicago in the West End". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  7. ^ "DENISE VAN OUTEN to star as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO". BestOfTheatre.co.uk. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Come From Away extends again - For the last time". London Box Office. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  9. ^ Historic England (23 October 1973). "The Phoenix Theatre (1242926)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
Further reading
  • Earl, John; Sell, Michael (2000). Guide to British Theatres 1750–1950. Theatres Trust. p. 131. ISBN 0-7136-5688-3.

External links Edit

  • Official website

phoenix, theatre, london, this, article, about, theatre, opened, 1930, 17th, century, theatre, cockpit, theatre, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, m. This article is about the theatre opened in 1930 For the 17th century theatre see Cockpit Theatre This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Phoenix Theatre London news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Phoenix Theatre is a West End theatre in the London Borough of Camden located in Charing Cross Road on the corner of Flitcroft Street The entrances are on Phoenix Street and Charing Cross Road The Phoenix Theatre was built on the site of a former factory and then music hall Alcazar before 1 Phoenix TheatrePhoenix Theatre in 2007AddressCharing Cross RoadLondon WC2United KingdomCoordinates51 30 52 N 0 07 46 W 51 514444 N 0 129556 W 51 514444 0 129556Public transitTottenham Court RoadOwnerAmbassador Theatre GroupTypeWest End theatreCapacity1 012 on 3 levelsConstructionOpened24 September 1930 93 years ago 1930 09 24 ArchitectGiles Gilbert Scott Bertie Crewe and Cecil MaseyWebsitethephoenixtheatre wbr co wbr uk Contents 1 Description 2 Productions 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditBuilt for Sidney Bernstein Baron Bernstein the theatre was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Bertie Crewe and Cecil Massey It has a restrained neoclassical exterior but an interior designed in an Italianate style by director and designer Theodore Komisarjevsky Vladimir Polunin copied works by Tintoretto Titian Pinturicchio and Giorgione It has a safety curtain that holds Jacopo del Sellaio s The Triumph of Love 2 There are golden engravings in the auditorium and red seats carpets and curtains This look is based on traditional Italian theatres There are decorated ceilings and sculpted wooden doors throughout the building It opened on 24 September 1930 with the premiere of Private Lives by Noel Coward who also appeared in the play with Adrienne Allen Gertrude Lawrence and Laurence Olivier Coward returned to the theatre with Tonight at 8 30 a series of ten 3 plays in 1936 and Quadrille in 1952 On 16 December 1969 the long association with Coward was celebrated with a midnight matinee in honour of his 70th birthday and the foyer bar was renamed the Noel Coward Bar Productions EditThe Phoenix has had a number of successful plays including Norman Ginsbury s Viceroy Sarah in 1935 and John Gielgud s Love for Love during the Second World War Harlequinade and The Browning Version two plays by Terence Rattigan opened on 8 September 1948 at the theatre In 1950 it staged Frederick Lonsdale s final play The Way Things Go In the mid 1950s Paul Scofield and Peter Brook appeared at the theatre In 1968 a musical version of Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales opened and ran for around two thousand performances Night and Day a 1978 play by Tom Stoppard ran for two years The theatre hosted many musicals in the 1980s and 1990s including The Biograph Girl with Sheila White The Baker s Wife by Stephen Schwartz directed by Trevor Nunn and Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim starring Julia McKenzie There were also a number of plays by William Shakespeare Its first pantomime was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Dana in 1983 The production of Blood Brothers the Willy Russell musical that transferred from The Albery Theatre in November 1991 ended a 21 year run on 10 November 2012 after becoming the longest running production at the theatre Following limited engagements of Goodnight Mr Tom and Midnight Tango The theatre then played host to the original West End production of Broadway musical Once which opened in April 2013 and closed on 21 March 2015 Bend it Like Beckham The Musical Guys and Dolls and The Last Tango played in 2016 with Dirty Dancing and Peppa Pig s Surprise comprising the 2016 Christmas season The Girls a musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth based on The Calendar Girls film played at the Phoenix Theatre with previews from 28 January 2017 and officially opened on 21 February 2017 The production closed on 15 July 2017 4 Chicago the Musical opened at the Phoenix Theatre on 11 April 2018 starring Cuba Gooding Jr as Billy Flynn Sarah Soetaert as Roxie Hart Josefina Gabrielle as Velma Kelly and Ruthie Henshall as Mama Morton 5 A cast change saw Martin Kemp take over the role of Billy Flynn with Alexandra Burke as Roxie Hart Mazz Murray as Mama Morton Denise Van Outen was due to take over as Velma Kelly however a foot injury meant that Josefina Gabrielle returned to the role 6 7 The show closed on 5 January 2019 In June 2018 it was announced that the hit Broadway musical Come from Away would transfer to the Phoenix which it did in February 2019 The production closed on 7 January 2023 8 The theatre is owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group Since 1973 it has been a Grade II Listed Building 9 See also EditPhoenix GardenReferences EditCitations The Phoenix Theatre Charing Cross Road WC2 www arthurlloyd co uk Retrieved 24 August 2018 Limited London Theatre Direct Phoenix Theatre London Theatre Direct The theatre programme on the night Shenton Mark 16 September 2016 The Girls Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth to Premiere in West End Playbill Retrieved 9 January 2023 Bowie Sell Daisy 16 February 2018 Ruthie Henshall Sarah Soetaert and Josefina Gabrielle to star in Chicago WhatsOnStage Retrieved 20 August 2018 Bowie Sell Daisy 24 July 2018 Alexandra Burke joins the cast of Chicago in the West End WhatsOnStage Retrieved 20 August 2018 DENISE VAN OUTEN to star as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO BestOfTheatre co uk 1 September 2018 Retrieved 1 September 2018 Come From Away extends again For the last time London Box Office 1 July 2022 Retrieved 1 July 2022 Historic England 23 October 1973 The Phoenix Theatre 1242926 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 25 March 2015 Further readingEarl John Sell Michael 2000 Guide to British Theatres 1750 1950 Theatres Trust p 131 ISBN 0 7136 5688 3 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phoenix Theatre London Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phoenix Theatre London amp oldid 1172385546, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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