Phoenix Theatre - History
The Phoenix Theatre is a Grade II listed building found on Charing Cross Road in London, making its closest train station Charing Cross. The nearest underground stations can be found at Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road.
A product of the twentieth century, the Phoenix Theatre first rolled back its curtains in September 1930 when Noel Coward graced the stage in a production of his own Private Lives. Along with Coward, the cast also consisted of other well known actors, including Adrienne Allen, Gertrude Lawrence and the now legendary Laurence Olivier. The theatre itself was made in an Italianate style under the designs of Theodore Komisarjebsky with the exterior the work of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Cecil Masey and Bertie Crewe.
The early years of the theatre’s existence were characterised by numerous work from Noel Coward. Following Private Lives, he returned for Tonight at 8.30 in 1936. His work for the venue has been celebrated on numerous occasions and in 1969, to mark his seventieth birthday, the bar in the foyer was renamed the Noel Coward Bar whilst a midnight matinee honoured his work on 16th December.
The theatre had managed to open after the horrors of the Great War had taken its toll on Europe, but the Second World War was soon to come. Despite the destruction and damage of many theatres during this period, the Phoenix managed to put on some successful shows. One such production was John Gielgud’s play Love for Love, which undoubtedly kept the spirits high for audiences during what was a horrifying time. As with many theatres that were alive for this period, it offered escapism as well as boosts to moral. Following the war the venue continued its success with two plays by Terence Rattigan in 1948 under the names The Browning Version and Harlequinade.
The 1950s followed and they were defined by productions that appeared at the theatre starring the likes of Paul Scofield and Peter Brook, as well as another Noel Coward production in Quadrille in 1952. The next decade, the 1960s, was defined by something else altogether and that was for the sheer number of productions that Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales ran for – a whopping two thousands performances from 1968.
By the time the 1980s had arrived the theatre had seen Tom Stoppard's Night And Day run for two years before musicals began to define the next twenty years. Visiting the theatre during this time would have meant you could have seen the likes of The Baker’s Wife by Stephen Schwarzk and Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. As well as many Shakespearean productions, these continued right up until today with recent productions including Blood Brothers. The Willy Russell musical has been wowing audiences since 1982 and has continued to do so at the Phoenix Theatre.
