Alexandra Theatre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alexandra Theatre | |
 |
|
| The main entrance | |
|---|---|
| Address |
Station Street
|
| City | |
| Country | England |
| Architect | Owen & Ward (1900), Roland Satchwell (1935), John Madin Design Group (1967), Seymour Harris Partnership (1992) |
| Owned by | Live Nation (Venues) UK Limited |
| Capacity | 1,347 |
| Opened | May 27, 1901 |
| Years active | 1901-present |
| Previous names | Lyceum Theatre |
| www.alexandratheatre.org.uk http://www.alexandratheatre.org.uk/ www.alexandratheatre.org.uk | |
| Coordinates: | |
The Alexandra Theatre, commonly known as The Alex, is a theatre on Station Street in Birmingham, England.
Construction of the theatre commenced in 1900 and was completed in 1901. The architects were Owen & Ward.[1] The theatre was opened May 27, 1901 as the Lyceum Theatre[2] on John Bright Street however it was met with few theatre goers. As a result, it was sold to Lester Collingwood for £4,000, who renamed it Alexandra on December 22, 1902.[3] Collingwood was killed in a road traffic accident in 1910 and was succeeded by Leon Salberg, who died in his office at the theatre in 1938. His ghost is said to inhabit the theatre.[3] Other ghost sightings include that by a cleaner of a woman dressed in grey in 1987.[3] It was rebuilt with a fine Art Deco auditorium in 1935 to a design by Roland Satchwell.[1] Upon Leon Salberg's death, Derek Salberg took over the running of the theatre. The Salberg family ran the theatre from 1911 to 1977.[4] Following World War II, the theatre became very popular with the local population. By 1950, 85% of season ticket holders lived within the boundaries of Birmingham.[5]
Although the main entrance was originally situated on John Bright Street, a new main entrance block was built on Suffolk Street between 1967-1969 to a design by the John Madin Design Group, with a wide bridge linking the two - from the inside, the appearance is that of a single building.[1] Satchwell's interior was refurbished in 1992 by the Seymour Harris Partnership.[1] The Alex was sold to Apollo Leisure in the 1990s. Derek Salberg's autobiography "Much Ado About Theatre" had its foreword written by Laurence Olivier. Under Leon Salberg, the Alex was famous for its pantomimes such as "Mother Goose".
The theatre currently seats 1,347 and hosts a busy programme of touring drama, West End shows and stand-up comedy.[6] It was the home of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company between 1990 and 1997.
Neville Chamberlain delivered a speech at the theatre on October 13, 1918.[7]
Arthur Lowe died of a stroke in his dressing room before a performance of Home at Seven on April 15, 1982 aged 66.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Foster, Andy [2005] (2007). Birmingham, Pevsner Architectural Guides. Yale University Press, 200. ISBN 978-0-300-10731-9.
- ^ Chronology of Birmingham 1883 - 1950. Birmingham City Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- ^ a b c Kemp, David (1996). The Pleasures and Treasures of Britain. Dundurn Press Ltd., 231. ISBN 1550021591.
- ^ Barker, Clive; Simon Trussler (2000). New Theatre Quarterly 62. Cambridge University Press, 147. ISBN 0521789028.
- ^ Kinvig, R.H. (1950). Birmingham and Its Regional Setting: A Scientific Survey, British Association for the Advancement of Science, Local Executive Committee, 333.
- ^ The Alexandra Theatre. BBC Birmingham. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- ^ Rifkind, Simon Hirsch (1977). The Basic Equities of the Palestine Problem. Ayer Publishing, 23. ISBN 0405102798.
[edit] External links
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