London: Westminster Theatre

Country: England, United Kingdom
City: London
Borough: City of Westminster
Location: Victoria, 12 Palace Street

Built 1766 as "Charlotte Chapel" (1849 renamed "St Peter's Chapel"). 1922 converted into a cinema by John Stanley Beard. Opened 9 Apr 1923 as "St James' Picture Theatre". Closed 28 Mar 1931. Subsequently converted into a live theatre by Arnold Dunmar Smith. Reopened 7 Oct 1931 as "Westminster Theatre" with James Bridie's play "The Anatomist". Since 1946 operated by the Westminster Memorial Trust (driven by the Moral Re-Armament movement). 1965-1966 major exterior and foyer rebuilding by John Reid and Sylivia Reid, with a new facade made from Welsh slate. Demolished in 2002. [2008-2012 a new "St James Theatre" was built on the site, later renamed "The Other Palace".]

Notable world premieres:

  • Harley Granville Barker: Waste (2nd version, 1936)

Links: www.arthurlloyd.co.uk, CinemaTreasures, Wikipedia

London: Westminster Theatre Picture: after the 1966 exterior rebuilding
Front Text: inscription over entrance: "Westminster Theatre", sign: advertising "Happy Death Day by Peter Howard"
Reverse Text: "Westminster Theatre Arts Centre. Built in memory of Peter Howard, leader of Moral Re-Armament, and opened in November, 1966. The riven Welsh slate with which the building is faced is the gift of the people in Wales."
Publisher: Grosvenor Books, Pinner; MR1/67/10
Size: Modern
Not sent.

London: Westminster Theatre Reverse Text: "Westminster Theatre Arts Centre. Built as a chapel by Dr William Dodd in 1766. In 1923 it was made into a cinema and in 1931 into a theatre. Acquired in 1946 by the Westminster Memorial Trust in memory of men in Moral Re-Armament who gave their lives in World War II. The view of Westminster on the safety curtain is from a painting by Sir Hamilton Kerr, Bart."
Publisher: Grosvenor Books, Pinner; MR2/75/5
Size: Modern
Not sent.

For another picture of this theatre, see London: "The Theatres of London".

Permanent link: https://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/id/4396

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