UK – London – Noel Coward Theatre

Dates: 1903 – present
Address: St Martin’s Lane, WC2.

Official website: http://www.noelcowardtheatre.co.uk/

Opened in 1903 as the “New” Theatre. It was renamed the “Albery” 70 years later as a tribute to the late Sir Bronson Albery under whom it had such a distinguished history-today continued under the direction of his son, Sir Donald Albery, and grandson Ian Albery. (From TABS Autumn 1977).

Maximum seating capacity: 942
Stage depth: 13145mm / 43ft 1in
Width of proscenium: 9592mm / 31ft 5in
Height of proscenium: 8184mm / 26ft 10in
Height to pelmet: 6370mm / 20ft 10in
Height to under iron curtain: 6544mm / 21ft 5in
Forestage depth: 620mm / 2ft
Rake: None
Height of get in above stage: 4000mm / 13ft 1in
Prompt corner: SL

History / Ownership

Formerly The New Theatre and The Albery Theatre

Due to bomb damage, the Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells companies moved to The New Theatre in 1941.

Changed name to The Albery, to commemorate Mary Moore’s son, Bronson Albery, who presided over its fortunes for many years and was later succeeded by his son Donald, and grandson Ian. The Albery family made a unique contribution to the history of the theatre as both managers and producers between 1903 and 1987.

Delfont Mackintosh Theatres take over the running of the theatre on 19 September 2005 from Ambassador Theatre Group

Changed name to Noël Coward Theatre when Avenue Q opened on 1 June 2006

Past Productions

From official website

Doctor Strangelove (8 October 2024 – 21 December 2024) Directed by Sean Foley, starring Steve Coogan.
Player Kings (1 April 2024 – 22 June 2024) starring Ian McKellen, Toheeb Jimoh, Richard Coyle. Directed by Robert Icke.
The Motive and the Cue (9 December 2023 – 23 March 2024) Transferred from National Theatre. Directed by Sam Mendes, starring Johnny Flynn, Mark Gatiss, Tuppence Middleton
The Ocean at the End of the Lane (from 11 October 2023 – 25 November 2023) following National Tour
Patriots (Previews from 26 May 2023, opened 6 June 2023, closes 19 August 2023)
The Great British Bake Off Musical (25 February 2023 – 14 May 2023)
Best of Enemies (14 November 2022 – 18 February 2023)
2:22 A Ghost Story (3rd August to 16 Oct 2021)
July 2022 – Used as a filming location for Marvel Entertainment TV show ‘Loki’
The Comeback (7 July 2021 – 25 July 2021)
Dear Evan Hansen (previews from 29 October 2019, opened19 November 2019, paused in March 2020, reopened in October 2021, closing 22 October 2022)
Prior to the opening of Dear Evan Hansen, the grand circle bar, used as an office for many years, was given a stylish makeover and named Thelma’s Bar in honour of the theatre producer Thelma Holt. The Dress Circle Bar, known as the Albery Bar, was also restored to its elegant, original 1903 layout.
The Night of the Iguana (6 July 2019 – 28 September 2019)
All About Eve (2nd February 2019 – 11th May 2019) starring Gillian Anderson, directed by Ivo van Hove
The Inheritance (21st September 2018 – 5th January 2019)
The Lieutenant of Inishmore (23 June 2018 – 8 September 2018) Starring Aidan Turner, directed by Michael Grandage
Quiz (10 April 2018 – 16 June 2018)
Girl from the North Country (11 January 2018 – 24 March 2018)
Half A Sixpence (29 October 2016 – 2 September 2017) Transfer from Chichester Festival Theatre, starring Charlie Stemp
Impossible (8 July – 27 August 2016)
Gatz – Elevator Repair Service (2012)
Million Dollar Quartet (28 February 2011 – 14 January 2012)
Sovremennik season (2011)
Deathtrap (7 September 2010 – 15 January 2011)
Enron (26 January 2010 – 14 August 2010)
Calendar Girls (13 April 2009 – 9 January 2010)
Avenue Q (28 June 2006 – 38 March 2009) (transferred to the Gielgud Theatre)
Suddenly Last Summer (14 May 2004 – 31 July 2004) starring Diana Rigg
Endgame (10 March 2004 – 1 May 2004) starring Lee Evans and Michael Gambon. Directed by Matthew Warchus.
See You Next Tuesday (17 September 2003 – 14 December 2003) starring Ardal O’Hanlon & Nigel Havers
The Master Builder (12 June 2003 – ?) starring Patrick Stewart and Sue Johnston
Mum’s The Word (18 March 2003 – 7 June 2003)
Macbeth (Previews from 7 November 2002, opens ? – 1st March 2003) starring Sean Bean and Samantha Bond
Rory Bremner, Bird & Fortune (from ?30 September 2002 – 2 November 2002)
Benefactors (Previews from 18 June 2002, opens ? – 28 September 2002)
Shockheaded Peter (4 April 2002 – 16 June 2002)
Simon Callow – The Mystery of Charles Dickens (7 March 2002 – 24 March 2002) 27 performances
Private Lives (2001 – 3 March 2002) starring Lindsay Duncan, Alan Rickman
Plenty (to July 10 1999) by David Hare. Directed by Jonathan Kent. Almeida Theatre Company.
Five Guys Named Moe (1995)
A Month in the Country (1994)
The Normal Heart ( – 1986) starring Tom Hulce. [six more weeks – june 19 1986]
The Boyfriend (20 September 1984 – 2 February 1985) produced by Cameron Mackintosh
Children of a Lesser God (1981 – 1983+) starring Trevor Eve and Elizabeth Quinn, then Oliver Cotton and Elizabeth Quinn (1983)
Pal Joey (25 September 1980 – 26 September 1981) starring Sian Phillips and Denis Lawson
Oliver! revival using the original Sean Kenny sets (21 December 1977 – 20 September 1980) starring Roy Hudd & Joan Turner, then Roy Dotrice & Gillian Burns & Margaret Burton, then George Layton & Helen Shapiro.
Candida (Previews 21 June 1977, Opens 23 June 1977 – 17 December 1977) starring Deborah Kerr and Denis Quilley
Equus (April 1977 – 18 June 1977) Directed by John Dexter, starring Michael Jayston and David Dixon. National Theatre production, running in rep since 1973.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat appeared as a 40 minute piece, along with another called Jacob’s Journey (1973)
Anne of Green Gables (Previews 9 April, Opened 16 April 1969)
Soldiers ( – March 1969)
Spring and Port Wine (?July 1967 – ?) starring Alfred Marks, Joyce Heron, Melvyn Hayes. By Bill Naughton.
The Constant Couple (29 June 1967 – ?) starring Robert Hardy
World War 2.5 (13 April 1967 – 3 June 1967) starring Sarah Miles, Roy Dotrice
Howards End ( – 1 April 1967) by E.M.Forster
Jorrocks (Sept 1966 – Feb 1967)
Oliver! (30 June 1960 – 10 September 1966) a short break, then opened at Piccadilly Theatre
The Millionairess (1952) Katharine Hepburn
The Cocktail Party (1950 – Rex Harrison, Margaret Leighton)
The School for Scandal, King Richard III, Antigone (1949 – Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh)

Equipment

The ‘Electronic’ Thyratron dimmer installation was replaced in 1955 with electromechanical servo dimmers due to a problem with ‘singing’ lamp filaments. (awaiting confirmation)

From ‘Yesterday’s Lights’ by Francis Reid
24 October 1961
154-way electro-mechanical dimmer bank. Mainly resistance dimmers but 12 transformer dimmers (max load 2kW) for certain dip and fly points. Dimmer bank situated at fly floor level. Desk in room at back of stalls. View of stage impaired by overhanging balcony.
Desk arranged as 2-wings with preset levers and centre section with master controls. Each preset lever has grouping switch for off, master & independent. Each row has section switches enabling that row to be independent if desired. Centre panel master panel contains motor switch for running dimmers to left or right desk settings. Also motor speed adjustment from 3 to 45 seconds and impulse timer for ‘inching’ longer cues. Meters indicate progress of cues. Switching provided for auto-colour change but not in use.
This system enables two complete changes of lighting ahead of the lighting in use to be set up in advance. Since many cues only involve a limited number of circuits, several other cues can be wholly or partly set up in advance, and during ‘Oliver!’ it was often possible to have 5 of 6 cues set up in advance. Without this facility it would have been impossible to carry out the lighting exactly as required by the producer and lighting director.

From The Stage Guide, 1971
Electrics: Strand PR board in rear of stalls. Dimmers – 134; 2 presets; no groups. Circuits – FOH 16; Flies 66; Stage dips 46; Perches 6. Total capacity available – 292kVA on 3 phases. Special effects supply – 30 and 60A both on 3 phases. Socket type – 15A BESA. Follow spots – positions in rear of Balcony for 2 Patt.265 if required.
Sound: Console in prompt corner by special arrangement in rear of Royal Circle. Amplifiers – 2 stereo x 15W and 1 x 65W. Tape decks and turntables as required available for hire. 8 mic sockets (2 Sennheizer LR miss in auditorium). 4 loudspeakers (2 in stalls, 2 in top boxes).

From British Theatre Directory, 1978
Switchboard: Strand MMS, 200 Channel Capacity with special facilities, rear of stalls; circuit distribution FOH 60; Flys 82; Stage 54; FOH Spots 22 Patt 264, 8 Patt 23.

From British Performing Arts Yearbook, 1994
Own generator. Arri Imagine 250 board. 130 @ 2kW, 10 @ 5kW, 10 non dim, operated from rear of stalls. Mini-II racks or STMs added as required. Up to 100A 3 phase supplies available. Followspots operated from Grand Circle.

Links to information about equipment at The Noel Coward Theatre over the years

Patt.23 (Strand)

Electronic Control for Thyratron (Strand)

Thyratron (Strand)

CD / System CD (Strand)

PR / System PR (Strand)

MMS (Strand)

Patt.264 (Strand)

Imagine (Arri)

Documents

Noel Coward Theatre - Arthur Lloyd
[External Website]
From Arthur Lloyd website

M294 New now Albery Theatre liquid dimmers c.1950 (1950)
Click on thumbnail to enlarge
[1.66Mb JPEG]
From Strand Slide Archive

Mentions of The Noel Coward Theatre in indexed journals

Location

Chronology (from the Noel Coward Theatre website):

1903 The New Theatre opened with a revival of Rosemary by Louis N Parker and Murray Carson in which the co-directors Sir Charles Wyndham and Mary Moore starred.

1905 Fred Terry and Julia Neilson first staged The Scarlet Pimpernel here. It proved so popular that it was revived annually for seven years.

1909 Father, mother and daughter, Fred Terry, Julia Neilson and Phyllis Terson (Terry), all appeared in the same play, Henry of Navarre.

1920 Noël Coward made his West End debut as Bobbie Dermott in his own play I’ll Leave It to You.

1924 Sybil Thorndike created the role of Joan in G B Shaw’s play Saint Joan. It was described by the Daily Mail as ‘one of the great performances of our time’.

1926 Margaret Kennedy and Basil Dean’s play The Constant Nymph had a great success with both Noël Coward and subsequently John Gielgud taking the part of the composer Lewis Dodd.

1933 John Gielgud appeared at the theatre in the play that established him as a star, Richard of Bordeaux which ran for 472 performances. He continued to appear there for more than three years in a number of plays including Queen of Scots, Hamlet, Noah, Romeo and Juliet and The Seagull.

1941 The theatre became home to the Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells companies when their own theatres were bomb damaged. The Vic-Wells ballet gave their first West End performance of a triple bill starring Margot Fonteyn and Frederick Ashton on 14 January. The numerous star-studded Old Vic productions included Ralph Richardson as Peer Gynt and Laurence Olivier as Richard III.

1949 Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh starred together in The School for Scandal, King Richard III and Antigone. The former had costumes by Cecil Beaton and music by Thomas Beecham.

1950 London premiere of T S Eliot’s comedy of manners The Cocktail Party based on Alcestis by Euripedes, starring Rex Harrison as The Unidentified Guest and Margaret Leighton as Celia.

1952 Katharine Hepburn made her West End debut as Epifania in The Millionairess. Shaw had himself described her as ‘the born decider, dominator, organiser, tactician, mesmeriser’.

1960 Oliver! opened on 30 June with an advance of just £145. The opening cast included Ron Moody as Fagin, Georgia Brown as Nancy and Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry. The show ran until September 1967, by which time it had notched up 2,618 performances.

1973 The theatre changed its name from the New to the Albery to commemorate Mary Moore’s son, Bronson Albery, who presided over its fortunes for many years and was later succeeded by his son Donald, and grandson Ian. The Albery family made a unique contribution to the history of the theatre as both managers and producers between 1903 and 1987.

1973 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice had commenced life as a 20-minute ‘pop cantata’. By the time it reached the Albery it had doubled in length and was performed with another piece, later phased out, entitled Jacob’s Journey.

1977 Cameron Mackintosh presented a revival of the original production of Oliver! using the famous Sean Kenny sets. It starred Roy Hudd as Fagin and ran for three years.

1981 The romantic drama Children of a Lesser God won Oliviers for Trevor Eve and Elizabeth Quinn as well as the Best New Play Award.

1994 A Month in the Country with John Hurt and Helen Mirren was the Albery’s most successful play ever. Mirren’s personal success as Natalya Petrovna led to her Broadway debut the following year.

1995 Members of the cast and audience did the conga around the theatre in Five Guys Named Moe which was written by Clarke Peters as a tribute to jazz-blues musician Louis Jordan.

2001 Lindsay Duncan and Alan Rickman took London by storm with their modern, highly charged performances as Amanda and Elyot in Coward’s Private Lives.

2005 On 19 September the long lease on the theatre reverted from the Ambassador Theatre Group to Delfont Mackintosh Theatres.

2006 The theatre changed its name to the Noël Coward Theatre when Avenue Q opened on 1 June. This Tony Award-winning musical ran for almost three years before transferring to the Gielgud Theatre.

2011 The Moscow-based theatre company Sovremennik gave the first London season by a major Russian company for over 20 years.

2012 For the first time in their 30-year history, LIFT presented a show in a conventional West End venue. The eight-hour-long Elevator Repair Service production of Gatz was described by Ben Brantley as ‘The most remarkable achievement in theatre not only of this year but of this decade’.