The London Coliseum - History
The Coliseum Theatre, or the London Coliseum as it is more commonly known, is found on St Martin’s Lane in London. Its nearest underground stations are Embankment, Leicester Square and Charing Cross with the nearest railway links found at Charing Cross train station.
If you are visiting opera in the capital then chances are you will be making up an audience at London’s Coliseum, one of the biggest theatres that the city has to offer and has been a proud edition to the culture of the country since it opened in 1904. It was the legendary Oswald Stoll who commissioned the venue and work began for its construction under architect Frank Matcham. When the theatre opened, it was to be a venue described as a ‘palace’ to its creators. The design of the theatre was praised, and much of this work can still be seen when you visit this venue and observe its auditorium.
One of the main reasons the theatre is referred to by different names is because all of these titles have been its official name at some point. It was first changed from the London Coliseum to the Coliseum Theatre between the years 1931 and 1968. Before this, however, it had already made a name for itself and established its standing as a world class entertainment venue. This was due to productions like W S Gilbert’s The Hooligan in 1911, which was his final ever production.
The venue managed to survive the effects of two World Wars unscathed and continued to flourish. Between the years when it was known as the Coliseum Theatre it presented over 600 performances of the show White Horse Inn, which continued right up until Sadler’s Well Opera Company made the venue its new home and reverted it to its original name in 1968. Sadler’s Wells Opera Company went on the become the English National Opera in later years, owning the venue and using it to showcase some of the greatest works of Opera in the world right to this day. They purchased the theatre for around £12.8 million.
It is now a Grade II* listed building, given the title by English Heritage back in 1960, and rightfully so – it makes up one of the cultural landmarks of the capital and is a world class venue capable of bringing in the best talents from around the world. Such is it status, it was the venue chosen to show the Royal Variety Performances in the years 2004 and 2006 following what were much needed and hugely beneficial renovations.
The venue is used constantly to showcase the world’s best opera – compelling audiences and making them return for more every year. It is a globally famous venue that is going to continue its success for many years to come.
