The Royal Grecian Theatre was a

Music Hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

theatre, located in the grounds of the ''Eagle Tavern'', a public house at Shepherdess Walk, just off the

City Road City Road or The City Road is a road that runs through central London. The northwestern extremity of the road is at Angel where it forms a continuation of Pentonville Road. Pentonville Road itself is the modern name for the eastern part of Lo ...

Shoreditch Shoreditch is a district in the East End of London in England, and forms the southern part of the London Borough of Hackney. Neighbouring parts of Tower Hamlets are also perceived as part of the area. In the 16th century, Shoreditch was an impor ...

, in the

East End of London The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It does not have uni ...

. The Eagle, best known for its association with the nursery rhyme

Pop goes the weasel "Pop! Goes the Weasel" (Roud 5249) is a traditional English and American song, a country dance, nursery rhyme, and singing game that emerged in the mid-19th century. It is commonly used in Jack-in-the-box toys and for ice cream trucks. The song ...

survives (albeit rebuilt), but the theatre does not.

Establishment and enhancements

The ''Shepherd and Shepherdess'' tavern had been built at the site sometime prior to 1745, in what was then a rural part of the parish of Shoreditch. Invalids would stay at the tavern to benefit from the pure country air. The tavern was popular for cream cakes and furmety. ''Shepherdess Walk'' is likely to take its name from the old tavern. the tavern was demolished in the 1820s. The Eagle Tavern was built on the site in the 1820s, and in 1832 a pavilion, known as the ''Grecian Saloon'', was built in its grounds. The saloon was rebuilt in 1841, becoming a theatre proper. It received a licence in 1858, and became the ''Royal Grecian''. Alterations in 1858 made it a 2500-seat theatre. In 1877 a new 4000-seat theatre was built on the site of the old ballroom. The Eagle's influence on the Music Hall genre was profound, being described as:

Demolition of theatre and rebuild of the Eagle

In 1882 the buildings were put up for auction, and bought by the

Salvation Army Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...

. The theatre was demolished in 1900 and the Eagle rebuilt. ''The Eagle'' pub, which is still in business.

Theatre operations

Performers

Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as " T ...

,, known as the ''Queen of the Music Hall'', worked at the Eagle as a waitress at the age of 15.Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase and Fable, Russ Willey, Brewers, 2009 Her father John who was a waiter there also secured her an unpaid role as a table singer at the venue."Lloyd, Edward"
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, accessed 3 December 2012

Ownership and artistic directorship

In 1851

Benjamin Conquest Benjamin Conquest (3 December 1803 - 12 July 1872), born Benjamin Oliver, was the manager of the Garrick and Grecian Theatres. Early life and family Conquest was born Benjamin Oliver 3 December 1803 and baptised on 8 January 1804 He married Clari ...

became proprietor. The musical directorship of the Grecian changed hands in 1870, general musical director William Edroff died leaving his son Andrew to direct the bands in the ballroom and on the outdoor platform. Edward Barrett, however had been the leader of the theatre orchestra. Barrett's son Oscar took over music for the dramas and pantomimes in 1870.

Popular Culture

Nursery Rhyme

The

nursery rhyme A nursery rhyme is a traditional poem or song for children in Britain and many other countries, but usage of the term dates only from the late 18th/early 19th century. The term Mother Goose rhymes is interchangeable with nursery rhymes. From t ...

Pop Goes the Weasel "Pop! Goes the Weasel" (Roud 5249) is a traditional English and American song, a country dance, nursery rhyme, and singing game that emerged in the mid-19th century. It is commonly used in Jack-in-the-box toys and for ice cream trucks. The song ...

'' refers to the old tavern:

Literature

The pub features in

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

Sketches by Boz ''Sketches by "Boz," Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People'' (commonly known as ''Sketches by Boz'') is a collection of short pieces Charles Dickens originally published in various newspapers and other periodicals between 1833 and ...

, when the Eagle is visited by Jemima Evans and Samuel Wilkins.

References

Benjamin ConquestThe Eagle Tavern

External links

* http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Shoreditch.htm * http://www.elta-project.org/browse.html?type=company&id=455 * http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/3266-grecian-eagle * http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/evanion/Results.aspx?SearchType=Heading&ID=139 * http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/Library/Library-and-Archive-Collections/London-History/London-Collection-Manuscripts/Eagle-Tavern--Grecian-Theatre-City-Road {{Coord, 51, 31, 41.87, N, 0, 5, 30.6, W, scale:1563_region:GB, display=title Demolished theatres in London Buildings and structures demolished in 1900