Ian Bevan's talk on Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Ian Bevan returned to u3a Bromley to share his passion for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. There are 41 theatres in the West End and this is the largest, currently the fourth building on the site. Started in 1660 at the Restoration, friends of King Charles II opened two different player companies to fill the gap left by the Oliver Cromwell years. Early productions featured acclaimed Shakespearian actors of the time and Nell Gwyn, the King's mistress. 

Theatre going became the place to be and to be seen. Sir Christopher Wren designed the second slightly larger building around 1672 following a fire. One of the new leaders of the theatre was Charles Macklin, the Olivier of his day. He was followed by David Garrick in the 18th Century who started play rehearsals and got rid of the brothel next door. Other notable names who succeeded him were Richard Brinsley Sheridan, John Philip Kemble and Henry Holland. All were able to attract the big actors from this era. 

Under Holland a third and larger theatre was built following another fire in 1791. At this point a fire curtain was installed. The theatre only lasted till 1809 and a new much larger build and most of what is the current design emerged. A truly sumptuous theatre. It had a rotunda, grand saloon and two different doors for King George III and the Prince of Wales who famously did not get on. Big names of this time were Edmund Kean and Joseph Grimaldi, the original clown. The 19th century saw various cycles of expansion and decline under different leaders. However, innovations included the first Christmas pantomime with music hall actors, a revolving stage thanks to hydraulics and the first ballet. 

The 20th century saw the advent of musicals with Rose Marie and the Desert Song from 1924, then Cavalcade and the Dancing Years in the 1930s. During the 2nd World War with theatres closed it became the HQ of ENSA. Post War the big musicals began - Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, the King and I, My Fair Lady, Camelot etc. Then Mame, Billy, Chorus Line, Pirates of Penzance, 42nd Street, Miss Saigon (4296 performances), Lord of the Rings, Oliver and lots more. The Theatre closed again in the COVID years and Andrew Lloyd Webber, the owner was one of those to press for the earliest reopening. More recently it has hosted Frozen and Hercules as it continues to update offerings for the audiences of today. 

Thanks Ian for a very entertaining and interesting talk.