Terry's Theatre was a

West End theatre West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes"West End"in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, ...

in the

Strand Strand or The Strand may refer to: Topography *The flat area of land bordering a body of water, a: ** Beach ** Shoreline * Strand swamp, a type of swamp habitat in Florida Places Africa * Strand, Western Cape, a seaside town in South Africa * ...

, in the

City of Westminster The City of Westminster is a London borough with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in Greater London, England. It is the site of the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament and much of the British government. It contains a large par ...

, London. Built in 1887, it became a cinema in 1910 before being demolished in 1923.

History

The theatre was built in 1887, near Fountain's Court, on the site of a former

public house A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption Licensing laws of the United Kingdom#On-licence, on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the ...

, the Old Coal Hole, and was designed by Walter Emden for the publican, Charles Wilmot and a Dr Web. The theatre was built to accommodate 800, seated in pit and stalls, balcony and a dress circle. Fountain's Court was named for 'Fountain's Tavern', where the Fountain Club met – formed by

Robert Walpole Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (; 26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745), known between 1725 and 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British Whigs (British political party), Whig statesman who is generally regarded as the ''de facto'' first Prim ...

's political opponents. In 1826,

Edmund Kean Edmund Kean (4 November 178715 May 1833) was a British Shakespearean actor, who performed, among other places, in London, Belfast, New York, Quebec, and Paris. He was known for his short stature, tumultuous personal life, and controversial div ...

, the actor, founded a late supper club here, known as the 'Wolf Club' for carousing. It ran until the 1850s, introducing entertainments similar to Evans Music-and-Supper Rooms, in nearby

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist sit ...

. Edward Terry, as owner-manager, opened the theatre on 17 October 1887, with the farce ''The Churchwarden'', followed by ''The Woman Hater''. Terry had been the leading comedian of the

Royal Strand Theatre The Royal Strand Theatre was located in the Strand in the City of Westminster. The theatre was built on the site of a panorama in 1832, and in 1882 was rebuilt by the prolific theatre architect Charles J. Phipps. It was demolished in 1905 to ...

and then starred in

John Hollingshead John Hollingshead (9 September 1827 – 9 October 1904) was an English theatrical impresario, journalist and writer during the latter half of the 19th century. After a journalism career, Hollingshead managed the Alhambra Theatre and was later th ...

's company at the Gaiety before entering theatre management. He achieved considerable success with his own production of

Arthur Wing Pinero Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (24 May 1855 – 23 November 1934) was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor. Pinero was drawn to the theatre from an early age, and became a professional actor at the age of 19. He gained experience as a ...

's ''

Sweet Lavender ''Sweet Lavender'' is a play in three acts by Arthur Wing Pinero, first performed in 1888. The sentimental and gently humorous story concerns the romance of Lavender Rolt and Clement Hale, and the complications impeding the course of true love. ...

'', which opened at Terry's Theatre on 21 March 1888 and ran for 683 performances, producing a £20,000 profit. The play was quickly revived. Its cast included Terry,

Brandon Thomas Brandon Thomas may refer to: *Brandon Thomas (playwright) (1848–1914), English actor and playwright who wrote the hit farce, ''Charley's Aunt'' * Brandon Thomas (musician) (born 1980), American rock band singer *Brandon Thomas (American football) ...

, Maude Millett and

Carlotta Addison Carlotta Addison (July 1849 – 1914) was an English actress. Stage appearances included leading roles in original productions of plays by T. W. Robertson, W. S. Gilbert, H. J. Byron and Arthur Wing Pinero. Life Addison was born in Liverpool in ...

Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Literary realism, Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry ...

's ''The Three Wayfarers'' premièred at the theatre on 3 June 1893 with four other one act plays on the bill. This was typical of theatres of the time, offering 3–4 one-act plays commencing at 7:45pm, and running until 11pm. Many of the principal parts would be taken by Terry, himself, with other members of a permanent company sharing the other roles. Pinero also wrote "In Chancery" (1890) and "The Times" (1892) for the theatre. Law's farce ''The New Boy'' played in 1894. In 1894,

Edward Laurillard Edward Laurillard (20 April 1870 – 7 May 1936) was a cinema and theatre producer in London and New York City during the first third of the 20th century. He is best remembered for promoting the cinema early in the 20th century and for Edwardian ...

became manager of the theatre, producing ''King Kodak'', opening on 30 April 1894, with music by Alfred Plumpton and lyrics by Arthur Branscombe and a score by

Walter Slaughter Walter Alfred Slaughter (17 February 1860 – 2 March 1908) was an English conductor and composer of musical comedy, comic opera and children's shows. He was engaged in the West End as a composer and musical director from 1883 to 1904. Life a ...

. '' Little Christopher Columbus'' transferred to the theatre in 1894. Stephens and Yardley's ''The Passport'' played at the theatre in 1895. Madeline Ryley's ''Jedbury Junior'' played in 1896. W. H. Griffiths became manager, and there was a further success for Slaughter, with the opening of '' The French Maid'', on 24 April 1897, transferring the following year to the

Vaudeville Theatre The Vaudeville Theatre is a West End theatre on the Strand in the City of Westminster. Opening in 1870, the theatre staged mostly vaudeville shows and musical revues in its early days. The theatre was rebuilt twice, although each new buildin ...

and running for a total of 480 performances, with Louie Pounds in the title role, before transferring to New York. During the Christmas season, 1897–98, a series of matinees consisting of short musicals for children by Basil Hood and Walter Slaughter played with much success at the theatre. With Frederick Mouillot installed as manager, '' My Lady Molly'', a comic opera, ran for 342 performances between 14 March 1903–16 January 1904. ''

Ib and Little Christina ''Ib and Little Christina'' refers to two theatrical adaptations by Basil Hood of the 1855 fairy tale by Hans Andersen of the same name: a play (1900) and an opera (1901). Play The first version was a play subtitled "A Picture in 3 Parts", with ...

'' was revived at the theatre for short runs in both 1903 and 1904. The theatre was remodelled by

Frank Matcham Francis Matcham (22 November 1854 – 17 May 1920)Mackintosh, Iain"Matcham, Frank" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, accessed 7 July 2019 was an English architect who specialised in the design of theatres and ...

in 1905, and in 1906 H. A. Jones' comedy ''The Heroic Stubs'' premièred. After further changes to the building, it was reopened on 24 October 1910 as the ''Grand Casino'' cinema, a part of the "Bey Circuit". It was finally demolished in 1923 to facilitate a road widening scheme. An office block, named "Norman House" stands on the site, with shops below.''Grand Casino (Terry's)''
(The London Project), accessed 16 January 2009 The modern

Coal Hole A coal hole is a trapdoor, hatch in the pavement (sidewalk, in US usage) above an underground coal bin, coal bunker. They are sometimes found outside houses that existed during the period when coal was widely used for domestic central heating, h ...

public house stands near, but not on, the former site of the theatre.

Notes

References

*Earl, John and Michael Sell. ''Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950'', pp. 250 (Theatres Trust, 2000)

External links

''Terry's Theatre''
(Arthur Lloyd theatre history) {{Authority control Former theatres in London Former buildings and structures in the City of Westminster Theatres completed in 1887 1923 disestablishments in England Buildings and structures demolished in 1923 1887 establishments in England Strand, London