Near the Strand in London. Was here to see Crazy For You at the Novello Theatre.

This is the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, currently home of Shrek the Musical.

All lit green at night for Shrek.

Grade I listed.

From Catherine Street.

Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Attached Sir Augustus Harris Memorial Drinking Fountain, Westminster

TQ 3080 NE CATHERINE STREET, WC2 60/18 & 73/1 Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

GV I

The address and description shall be amended to read:-

CATHERINE STREET, WC2

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and attached Sir Augustus Harris Memorial Drinking Fountain

I

Theatre. Rebuild of 1811-12 by Benjamin Dean Wyatt with portico added 1820 and Russell Street colonnade in 1831 by Samuel Beazley; the auditorium rebuilt 1921-22 by J. Emblin Walker, Jones and Crombie but retaining Wyatt's reception rooms, foyer etc. Stuccoed facade, cast iron colonnade to Russell Street with brick stucco dressed above and stucco rear elevation to Drury Lane, slate roof. Restrained Grecian detailing. 2 tall storeys on plinth. 5 window wide entrance front (1:3:1). Centre 3 bays of ground floor screened by large austere portico of coupled antae-piers with anthemion band to necks. 3 semicircular arched doorways to hall, recessed for one order in shallow arcade and flanked by engaged circular pedestals supporting cast iron lamps. The outer bays, with semicircular arched openings on ground floor and eared architraved and corniced 1st floor windows, have flanking giant pilasters carrying the deep entablature and parapet. The 3 central 1st floor windows have eared architraves and pediments. The cast iron colonnade to Russell Street has coupled fluted ionic columns carrying entablature with wrought iron lamp brackets suspended between each pair of columns. The interior is unique amongst London theatres in retaining the surviving elements of its original Wyatt interiors: Greek Doric vestibule, oculus-galleried rotunda hall, elegant iron balustraded staircase ascending symmetrically on either side to central 1st floor rotunda foyer with corinthian column screens under coffered dome etc. the 1921-22 auditorium is Empire style, 3 tiers of 2-bay boxes and 3 balconies. Elaborate and important installation of Asphaleia stage machinery etc.

Survey of London; Vol. XXXV