Theatre Royal Stratford East
Encyclopedia
The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a theatre
in Stratford
in the London Borough of Newham
. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop
company.
) in 1884. It opened on 17 December 1884 with a revival of Richelieu by Bulwer-Lytton
. Two years later, Dillon sold it to Albert O'Leary Fredericks, his sister's brother-in-law and one of the original backers of the scheme. Side extensions were added in 1887, and the stage enlarged in 1891, by the original architect. In 1902, Frank Matcham
undertook minor improvements to the entrance and foyer. The Fredericks family continued to manage the theatre until 1932, although after the World War I
, the theatre fell into financial difficulties, opening only irregularly after 1926.
About 1950, a touring company presented the Christmas pantomime
, Alice in Wonderland. The company were to return, as the Theatre Workshop
in 1953, with artistic director Joan Littlewood
and take over the theatre.
The theatre came under threat with the construction of the Stratford shopping centre in the 1970s, but was saved by a public campaign and protected in June 1972 by English Heritage
with a Grade II* listing. Money remained short, and the manager, Gerry Raffles only managed redecoration and replacements as cash became available. In 1984, the front of house was refurbished and in 2001, following a successful Heritage Lottery Fund
bid, it completed the redevelopment of all of its front of house and backstage areas as part of a project to create the Stratford
Cultural Quarter.
In 2005 the Theatre Royal Stratford East made history by having the first British Black musical to transfer to London's West End
, where it played at the Apollo Theatre
. Recently the theatre produced a musical version of the cult Jamaican film The Harder They Come
. This production was written by the film director Perry Henzel and was one of the most successful productions in the theatre's history.
In June 2011, Olympic news outlet Around the Rings reported that the Nigeria Olympic Committee
had chosen Theatre Royal Stratford East as its hospitality house for the 2012 Olympic Games.
on such productions as A Taste of Honey
and Oh! What a Lovely War
. In 1975, her collaborator and partner, Gerry Raffles died of diabetes, and in 1979, a devastated Joan Littlewood moved to France, never to direct again.
took over as Artistic Director in 1979 and remained for two and a half years.
In 1999, he began the Musical Theatre Initiatives scheme to encourage new writing in musical theatre. In 2004, after 25 years as artistic director, he retired.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
in Stratford
Stratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
in the London Borough of Newham
London Borough of Newham
The London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop is a theatre group noted for their director, Joan Littlewood. Many actors of the 1950s and 1960s received their training and first exposure with the company...
company.
History
The theatre was built on the site of a wheelwright's shop at the junction of Salway Road and Angel Lane, designed by architect James George Buckle, who was commissioned by the actor-manager Charles Dillon (formerly Silver, the son of Charles DillonCharles Dillon
Charles J. Dillon was an English actor-manager and tragedienne.In 1840, he appeared at the City Theatre, London, as Hamlet, giving a performance which attracted some critical attention. He toured extensively, to improve his reputation. Becoming actor-manager of the Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton in...
) in 1884. It opened on 17 December 1884 with a revival of Richelieu by Bulwer-Lytton
Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton
Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton PC , was an English politician, poet, playwright, and novelist. He was immensely popular with the reading public and wrote a stream of bestselling dime-novels which earned him a considerable fortune...
. Two years later, Dillon sold it to Albert O'Leary Fredericks, his sister's brother-in-law and one of the original backers of the scheme. Side extensions were added in 1887, and the stage enlarged in 1891, by the original architect. In 1902, Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham
Frank Matcham was a famous English theatrical architect. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.-Early career:...
undertook minor improvements to the entrance and foyer. The Fredericks family continued to manage the theatre until 1932, although after the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the theatre fell into financial difficulties, opening only irregularly after 1926.
About 1950, a touring company presented the Christmas pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, Alice in Wonderland. The company were to return, as the Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop is a theatre group noted for their director, Joan Littlewood. Many actors of the 1950s and 1960s received their training and first exposure with the company...
in 1953, with artistic director Joan Littlewood
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
and take over the theatre.
The theatre came under threat with the construction of the Stratford shopping centre in the 1970s, but was saved by a public campaign and protected in June 1972 by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
with a Grade II* listing. Money remained short, and the manager, Gerry Raffles only managed redecoration and replacements as cash became available. In 1984, the front of house was refurbished and in 2001, following a successful Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
bid, it completed the redevelopment of all of its front of house and backstage areas as part of a project to create the Stratford
Stratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
Cultural Quarter.
In 2005 the Theatre Royal Stratford East made history by having the first British Black musical to transfer to London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
, where it played at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
. Recently the theatre produced a musical version of the cult Jamaican film The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell.The film stars reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, who plays Ivanhoe Martin, a character based on Rhyging, a real-life Jamaican criminal who achieved fame in the 1940s...
. This production was written by the film director Perry Henzel and was one of the most successful productions in the theatre's history.
In June 2011, Olympic news outlet Around the Rings reported that the Nigeria Olympic Committee
Nigeria Olympic Committee
The Nigeria Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee for Nigeria, responsible for coordinating and supporting Nigerian competitors in the Olympic Games.-Leadership:...
had chosen Theatre Royal Stratford East as its hospitality house for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Joan Littlewood (1953-1979)
The Theatre Royal became famous under the management of Gerry Raffles (1928–1975), who worked with director Joan LittlewoodJoan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
on such productions as A Taste of Honey
A Taste of Honey
A Taste of Honey is the first play by the British dramatist Shelagh Delaney, written when she was 18. It was initially intended as a novel, but she turned it into a play because she hoped to revitalize British theatre and to address social issues that she felt were not being presented...
and Oh! What a Lovely War
Oh! What a Lovely War
Oh! What a Lovely War is a musical film based on the stage musical Oh, What a Lovely War! originated by Charles Chilton as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop created in 1963,...
. In 1975, her collaborator and partner, Gerry Raffles died of diabetes, and in 1979, a devastated Joan Littlewood moved to France, never to direct again.
Clare Venables (1979-1982)
Clare VenablesClare Venables
Clare Rosamund Venables was an English theatre director. She was artistic director of regional theatres in Lincoln, Stratford East , and Sheffield; she became Director of Education at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and she also directed a number of operas.-Early life:She was born in...
took over as Artistic Director in 1979 and remained for two and a half years.
Philip Hedley (1979-2004)
Philip Hedley had worked as an assistant to Joan Littlewood for some years, but took over the artistic directorship of the theatre from Clare Venables in 1979. He ran the theatre in the hope of rekindling the golden era it had experienced with Joan Littlewood in her prime. After a difficult first couple of years, he found his feet as Artistic Director and began to put his own personal stamp on the style in which it was run. Like Joan Littlewood, Philip Hedley was very keen to see local people using the theatre on a regular basis. To that end he not only provided traditional entertainment in style of old music hall variety shows on Sunday evenings for the traditional 'eastenders' (the ones before the soap of the same name) but also looked to engage with new Asian and Black audiences, as the local demographic changed. The theatre continued Littlewood's agenda to portray and express the experience of local people in East London.In 1999, he began the Musical Theatre Initiatives scheme to encourage new writing in musical theatre. In 2004, after 25 years as artistic director, he retired.