Streatham, South London, UK info@streathamhilltheatre.org 020 3582 4912

Category: Anniversary, Heritage, Image, News

Published: (Updated: ) by FoSHT-admin

Serious Bomb Damage: 3rd July 1944

At 6.30am on the morning of Monday 3rd July 1944 a flying bomb destroyed the side wall of the theatre.

Sleeping inside the theatre was an air-raid warden and his family on fire-watch duty. The bomb blew a gaping hole 60ft in diameter, damaging much of the interior and both sides of the proscenium arch.  The only fatality was the warden’s mother-in-law.  The extent of the damage was such that the theatre was closed for many years to come.

You can see aerial photos of the damage in this post from 2022.

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Category: Heritage

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Streatham Hill Playhouse Ltd Wound-up

According to the National Archives, in 1942 the company which originally built Streatham Hill Theatre was wound-up.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=%22streatham+hill+playhouse%22

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Category: Heritage

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D’Oyly Carte Programme in Spring 1940

In weeks beginning 26th February, and 4th and 11th March 1940, the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company presented a repertory programme of Gilbert and Sullivan operas: The Yeoman of the Guard, The Mikado, The Gondoliers, The Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, Cox and Box, HMS Pinafore, and Trial by Jury.

SHT D'Oyly Carte Programme 26 Feb to 11 Mar 1940
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Category: Heritage, Image, Memories

Published: (Updated: ) by FoSHT-admin

First appearances in London since war began

Flyer for ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Streatham Hill Theatre from 23rd October 1939, annotated by Lucy Awdry: ‘All Star Cast, their first appearance in London since war began’.

In September 1939 all cinemas and theatres had closed down, although within a month or so some were opening up again beyond the West End, as Mrs Awdry also noted in her diary: ‘the stars are now acting in the suburbs‘.

From a series of albums containing newspaper and magazine clippings, assorted ephemera and a diary, kept by Mrs Lucy Awdry of 14 Franconia Road, Clapham, for the duration of World War II and recording wartime life in London. During the war Mrs Awdry volunteered with the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) assisting with fire watch duties, and also at the Clapham War Savings Centre.

From the Lambeth Archive.

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Category: Heritage, News

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Theatre closes due to Declaration of War

In the week beginning 4th September 1939 the theatre closed due to the declaration of war with Germany the day before. The government ordered all places of entertainment to be closed due to fear of bombing.

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Category: Heritage, Image

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W. G. R. Sprague, theatre architect, dies

William George Robert Sprague, the renowned theatre architect, has died only four years after his last theatre opened. Sprague was the architect of Streatham Hill Theatre (along with W. H. Barton) which opened in November 1929.

Sprague lived for a while in nearby Herne Hill.

W G R Sprague’s former house in Herne Hill – 2 Warmington Road, SE24 9LA

Sprague was a prolific Theatre Architect working during the late 1800s and early 1900s and responsible for about forty buildings. There’s more about Sprague on the Arthur Lloyd website and WikiPedia.

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Category: Heritage

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Streatham Hill Playhouse Ltd raises extra funds

The Bioscope “MORTGAGES AND CHARGES” section in 1931 notes that Streatham Hill Playhouse Ltd raised extra funds.

18th March 1931 Edition

 STREATHAM HILL PLAYHOUSES (sic). LTD.—Registered January 30th, £30,000 (not ex.), 2nd debenture to Branch Nominees, Ltd., as trustees for National Provincial Bank, Ltd. ; general, charge (subject, etc.). *£100,000. April 29 1930.

12th August 1931 Edition

Streatham Hill Playhouse, Ltd.—Registered June 25th, £50,000 second debenture, to Branch Nonimees (sic), Ltd.. 15, Bishopsgate, E.C. ; charged on land at Streatham Hill, also charge. *£100,000. April 29, 1930.

* Amount of debt according to last available return.

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Category: Anniversary, Heritage, Image, News

Published: (Updated: ) by FoSHT-admin

Theatre opens: 20th November 1929

The Streatham Hill Theatre was due to open, offering “West End shows at provincial prices”, on Monday 18th November 1929, but wasn’t quite ready.

It was ready enough to open on the Wednesday, 20th November 1929, with the C. B. Cochran revue Wake up and Dream.

A lavish programme was published telling the story of the theatre and its features. The Stage newspaper covered the opening in its 21st November edition, saying that “The Theatre on Streatham Hill provides south side suburbs with a playhouse of which they can be justly proud.“

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Category: Heritage, Image, News

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The Stage: Streatham Hill Playhouse opening

The Stage 07 Nov 1929

The new Streatham Hill Playhouse will open on November 11, when the company now playing “Hold Everything” at the Palace Theatre will supply the opening attraction. The Stage 7/11/1929.

As it happens opening was delayed due to incomplete work until 20th November 1929.

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Category: Heritage

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The Locarno Ballroom

On 1 October 1929 the Locarno Dance Hall opened in Streatham, just down the hill from the new Streatham Hill Theatre which was preparing its own opening in November 1929.

Opened by band leader Billy Cotton, it was a glittering occasion attended by over 1,500 dancers.

It operated under several different names, closing in 2004, and ultimately being demolished as part of the London Square redevelopment of the site.

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