Adelphi Theatre

Address: Strand, WC2E 7NA

Tube: Charing Cross

Architect: Ernest Schaufelberg

Opened: 1930

Capacity: 1,560

There has been a theatre on the present site of the Adelphi Theatre for over two hundred years, from 1806. Originally, this striking angular building was named the "Sans Pareil" Theatre, the French for "without equal". During its history it has undergone many facelifts and name adjustments, its present day façade is a strikingly angular building, in art deco style designed by the architect Ernest Schaufelberg.

Although the theatre was popular during the Regency period, the building had fallen into disrepair by the 1850's. In 1858, it was totally demolished and reopened as The Theatre Royal, Adelphi, although, within 10 years the theatre had become known as The Royal Adelphi Theatre.

After Queen Victoria's death in 1901 the building was once again rebuilt, and it reopened as the Century Theatre in the September. However, despite heralding a new age, the name was not popular and after six months of intense pressure, the theatre management capitulated and it became the Royal Adelphi Theatre. Its final facelift was in 1830 when it retained its name, although the Royal prefix was abandoned in the reign of George the sixth in 1940.

The Adelphi Theatre reopened in December 1930 with the musical Evergreen starring Jessie Matthews, the star of the popular film version. It has also shown many Noel Coward and Cole Porter productions. Many of the current radio stars of the 1950's presented the Review Shows at the Adelphi. The popular musical Charlie Girl opened here and ran for over 2,000 performances.

In 1985, The Adelphi Theatre staged a revival of the musical comedy Me and My Girl, and then continued to entertain audiences with 'The Lambeth Walk' which ran for nearly eight years, a long time by the standards of London West end productions. Not quite in the same league as the Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, but long for a theatre this size. The musical Chicago also ran for the same length of time.

By the sixties the theatre had lost some of its popularity and there were rumblings that the building was going to be demolished and offices built in its stead, however Andrew Lloyd Webber became co-owner with James Nederlander, and the future of the Adelphi was assured.

Past Productions at the Adelphi Theatre:

My Fair Lady October 25, 1979 - October 31, 1981
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company Season November 11, 1981 - February 27, 1982
The American Dream Machine October 20, 1982 - December 1, 1982
Marilyn March 17, 1983 - July 30, 1983
Poppy November 12, 1983 - February 4, 1984
Lena Horne - The Lady and Her Music August 6, 1984 - September 29, 1984
Jungle Book December 4, 1984 - January 12, 1985
Me and My Girl February 12, 1985 - January 16, 1993
Sunset Boulevard July 12, 1993 - April 1997
Damn Yankees June 4, 1997 - August 9, 1997
Chicago November 19, 1997 - April 22, 2006
Evita June 20, 2006 - May 26, 2007 by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat July 6, 2007 - by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice