Ah, the Playhouse Theatre! This venerable institution, originally opening its doors on March 11, 1882, with Offenbach’s Madam Favart, quickly became a hotspot for comic operas, burlesques, and farces. Built by Sefton Henry Parry as the Royal Avenue Theatre, its early years were a whirlwind of laughter and light-hearted entertainment.
In 1905, the Playhouse faced its own dramatic plot twist when the roof of the adjacent Charing Cross railway station collapsed during renovations. Roofs and girders made an unexpected cameo, tragically killing six people and giving the theatre an unwanted open-air design. Nevertheless, the resilient Playhouse rose from the rubble, reopening in 1907 with The Drums of Oudh and Toddles.
Over the decades, the Playhouse has been a revolving door for theatrical luminaries. From the caustic wit of George Bernard Shaw to the managerial prowess of Gladys Cooper, this theatre has hosted a veritable who's who of the performing arts. Even the BBC found a temporary home here in the 1950s, turning the stage into a recording studio for live performances of The Goon Show and Hancock’s Half Hour. Imagine the Playhouse echoing with the voices of Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones—now that's a sound check!
The 1980s saw the Playhouse back in the limelight with rock band Queen using it as a set for their "A Kind of Magic" music video. In 1987, it was restored to its 1907 grandeur, reopening with the musical Girlfriends. A series of owners, including novelist Jeffrey Archer and playwright Ray Cooney, ensured the Playhouse remained a hub for theatrical innovation.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and the Playhouse is now the Kit Kat Club, having undergone a transformation to stage a critically acclaimed revival of Cabaret starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley. With a new in-the-round layout and a cozier seating capacity of 550, this latest incarnation promises to keep the Playhouse’s storied tradition of entertainment alive and kicking.
Details
- Address:
- Northumberland Avenue
- WC2N 5DE
- Transport:
- Railway station: Charing Cross Station Bus numbers: (Whitehall) 3, 12, 24, 53, 88, 91, 159, 453; (Strand) 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 29, 87, 139, 176