Aldwych Theatre

London is famed for it’s history, and it’s theatres are no exception.  The capital’s network of fabulous venues is old and prestigious, and many have their own fascinating stories to tell.  The Aldwych Theatre is no exception to this rule.  Read on to find out more.

The theatre began it’s life as part of a twin pair.  A group of influential men had banged their heads together, and with their collective talents produced what would come to be known as the Novello Theatre and the Aldwych Theatre.  The brainchild of the influential theatre man Charles Frohman, the buildings were created by the famous architect W. G. R. Sprague in the Georgian style of calm neoclassicism.

Opening at the outset of the 20^th century, the theatre immediately placed itself at the centre of art history by volunteering it’s auditorium to be the rehearsal space for Igor Stravinsky’s notorious ‘The Rite of Spring’.  Indeed, on it’s premier the piece caused a riot in the auditorium, such was it’s provocative modernist style.  Alongside providing space for artistic greatness such as this, the theatre was no stranger to the lighter side of life and performed a good deal of populist pantomime and comedy such as ‘Bluebell in Fairyland’, ‘The Beauty of Bath’ and ‘The Gay Gordons’, all by the famous writer Seymour Hicks.

The 20’s saw it develop a relationship with the comedic talent of Ben Travers, who produced a series of comedies there that would go on to become known as ‘The Aldwych Farces’.

Despite this reputation for comedy and farce, the Aldwych never lost it’s dedication to the more serious theatrical arts.  Perhaps it was because of this side of it’s character that the Royal Shakespeare Company chose it as it’s London home.  Initially it was only meant to be a short term relationship, but the theatre worked so perfectly with their projects that they ended up staying for two decades, not leaving until 1982!  During that time many of the works of The Bard were performed to great acclaim, as well as other serious plays such as an adaptation of Dickens’ ‘Nicholas Nickleby’.

Over this period of time, the theatre made many other cultural contributions to society.  It acted as the home of Peter Daubeny’s ‘World Theatre Seasons’ project, where dramas from around the world would flock to London to entertain the public.  These events would later win Daubeny an Evening Standard Special Award, showing the extent of their cultural importance.

The Aldwych was obviously a pivotal theatre for showbusiness in the 1900’s.  The new century has found it to be just as important and influential.  It has embraced the genre of musical theatre with open arms, showing such great pieces as ‘Whistle Down The Wind’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Steve Margoshes’ hit show ‘Fame’.  The RSC returned to their ‘home’ of the Aldwych to perform ‘The Secret Garden’ in 2001, proving the Aldwych’s continuing commitment to the whole spectrum of theatre.  Other show’s produced include ‘Mahler’s Conversion’, ‘Thunderbirds FAB’, ‘ Top Girls’, ‘Bedroom Farce’ and ‘Mother Clap’s Molly’s House’.

‘Dirty Dancing’ is the latest in a long line of great productions at the Aldwych Theatre, and it promises all the quality which it’s history has made it well rehearsed to deliver.