Theatre Royal Proscenium and Stage - Photograph, 1976
Title
Theatre Royal Proscenium and Stage - Photograph, 1976
Date
1976
Description
Photograph by Steve Stephens of the proscenium and stage before the refurbishment began in 1977
What's the story?
A beautifully detailed photograph of the Theatre Royal stage, clearly showing the asymmetric balcony structure and square proscenium from the Frank Matcham restoration in the eighteen eighties.
The Theatres Trust 2017 has this to say:
"In 1897 Frank Matcham removed the three balconies and the boxes of Phipps’s auditorium and replaced them with three new cantilevered balconies with improved sightlines and a new stack of boxes flanking the proscenium; the whole richly decorated with lively Rococo plasterwork. The result was an auditorium of remarkable intimacy and vibrantly theatrical atmosphere. It now seems certain that the proscenium as it existed prior to the reconstruction of 1978, was the result of re-design by Phipps in 1884 and left intact by Matcham. It was certainly not Phipps’s 1865 proscenium and was quite untypical of Matcham. It did, however, have much in common with prosceniums designed by Phipps later in his career."
Architect Nick Thompson and his wife, theatre designer Clare Ferraby, replaced Matcham's balconies and boxes with symmetric designs that hearkened back to Phipps's original concept.
The Theatres Trust 2017 has this to say:
"In 1897 Frank Matcham removed the three balconies and the boxes of Phipps’s auditorium and replaced them with three new cantilevered balconies with improved sightlines and a new stack of boxes flanking the proscenium; the whole richly decorated with lively Rococo plasterwork. The result was an auditorium of remarkable intimacy and vibrantly theatrical atmosphere. It now seems certain that the proscenium as it existed prior to the reconstruction of 1978, was the result of re-design by Phipps in 1884 and left intact by Matcham. It was certainly not Phipps’s 1865 proscenium and was quite untypical of Matcham. It did, however, have much in common with prosceniums designed by Phipps later in his career."
Architect Nick Thompson and his wife, theatre designer Clare Ferraby, replaced Matcham's balconies and boxes with symmetric designs that hearkened back to Phipps's original concept.
Type
Photograph
Location of item
Private Collection - Nick Thompson & Clare Ferraby
Rights
Private Collection - Nick Thompson & Clare Ferraby
Contributor
Researcher: June Ellerby
Format
25.3 cm x 20.2 cm
