Trafalgar Entertainment has revealed the restoration of the Trafalgar Theatre on Whitehall in London.
Formerly the Trafalgar Studios, theatre impresarios Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire, who are joint CEO’s of Trafalgar Entertainment, have conducted a multi-million pound restoration of the venue, ahead of the theatre’s reopening in July.
The Trafalgar Theatre will reopen on 28 July 2021 with a revival of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys.
The Grade II listed theatre has seen a number of features reinstated back to its original 1930’s design, with many not seen for over 90 years. Previously divided into two spaces, a main auditorium and a studio space, the restoration has put back one single 630 seat auditorium, alongside a new stalls bar, a more spacious foyer, and better facilities including an increased number of ladies toilets.
The colour palette of the theatre has reverted back to black with silver, bronze and gold metallic hints. The Balcony front, which was removed a number of years ago and had been carefully stored, is restored and back in place, alongside the theatre’s grand ceiling and proscenium arch.
The restoration was carried out by Foster Wilson Size, who have also been responsible for restoring a number of other theatres including the Harold Pinter Theatre, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, Barbican Concert Hall, the Apollo Victoria Theatre and the Southampton Mayflower. They have also designed new theatres including the forthcoming Brixton House Theatre in Brixton, the new venue for the relocated Oval House Theatre, and The Other Palace in Victoria.
The Trafalgar Theatre, originally called the Whitehall Theatre, was designed by Edward A Stone, and opened on 29 September 1930 with a production of The Way To Treat a Woman by Walter Hackett. At various points it has been a cinema, TV studio, and even a museum – with Paul Raymond creating the Whitehall Theatre of War in the 70’s. It was refurbished in 1986, and then in 2003 it closed and was reconfigured into two studio auditoriums, reopening in 2004 with the RSC’s Othello.
Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire set up Trafalgar Entertainment after leaving ATG – the international theatre group they established in 1992. Trafalgar also owns the new 1,575 seater Olympia Theatre, the biggest new London theatre to be built since the 70’s; and Sydney’s 1,200 seat Theatre Royal. They also own new luxury private members cinema Chiswick Cinema, which opens later this month, and have bought 12 regional theatres from HQ Theatres and Hospitality including the Churchill Theatre Bromley, the Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe and the Orchard Theatre in Dartford.
Trafalgar Theatre, London
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