Liverpool Playhouse facts for kids
|
Star Music Hall,
Star Theatre of Varieties, Liverpool Repertory Theatre |
|
 |
|
Liverpool Playhouse
|
|
 Liverpool Playhouse
Location in Merseyside
|
|
| Address | Williamson Square Liverpool England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°24′23″N 2°58′57″W / 53.4064°N 2.9826°W |
| Owner | Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust |
| Operator | Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust |
| Designation | Listed Building Grade II* |
| Type | Theatre |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1866 |
| Architect | Edward Davies, Harry Percival, Stanley Adshead, Hall, O'Donahue and Wilson |
| Website | |
| [1] | |
The Liverpool Playhouse is a famous theatre in Liverpool, England. It's located in Williamson Square. It started in 1866 as a place for music shows, called a music hall. Later, in 1911, it became a repertory theatre. This means it had a group of actors who performed many different plays. Many well-known actors and actresses began their careers here. The building has changed over time. The newest part, a modern extension, was added in 1968. Since 1999, the Playhouse has been managed together with the Everyman Theatre.
Contents
A Look Back: The Playhouse's Story
The theatre you see today was designed by Edward Davies. It first opened in 1866. Before that, there was an older theatre on the same spot called the Star Concert Hall. The new theatre was first named the Star Music Hall. In 1895, its name changed to the Star Theatre of Varieties.
The theatre got some upgrades in 1898. Harry Percival improved the main seating area (auditorium) and the entrance hall (foyer). Electricity was also installed, which was a big deal back then!
In 1911, a new group called the Liverpool Repertory Theatre Limited was created. They wanted to perform many different plays. They couldn't build a new theatre, so they bought the Star Theatre. This made them the first repertory theatre in Britain to own their own building. They spent more money to redesign and update the theatre. Stanley Adshead, a professor of design, helped redesign the auditorium and basement foyer.
The theatre was managed for many years by Maud Carpenter. Ronald Settle was the music director from 1945 to 1971. The theatre was renamed the Liverpool Repertory Theatre. Then, in 1916, it was renamed again to the Liverpool Playhouse. Small changes were made to the building in 1961 and 1966.
A big modern extension was added in 1968. This new part, on the north side, included new foyers, bars, dressing rooms for actors, and a workshop. In the 1990s, the theatre company faced financial problems. But in 1999, a new charity was formed. It's called the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited. The theatre reopened and is now managed with the Everyman Theatre.
Famous Faces Who Started Here
From 1922 to 1944, William Armstrong was the director of the theatre. He was very good at choosing plays and directing them. He also had a knack for finding great actors. Many actors and actresses who trained at the Playhouse became very famous. They went on to perform in London's West End and beyond.
Some of these talented people include:
- Diana Wynyard
- Richard Bird
- Robert Donat
- Michael Redgrave
- Rex Harrison
- Robert Flemyng
Even Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence worked with the company when they were child actors! Other well-known performers who gained experience at the Playhouse are:
- Lilian Braithwaite
- Cecil Parker
- John Gregson
- Clive Brook
- C. Aubrey Smith
- Richard Burton
- Patricia Routledge
- Anthony Hopkins
- Richard Briers
The Playhouse Building: A Mix of Old and New
The Liverpool Playhouse is made of two main parts: an older section and a newer section.
The Older Part's Design
The outside of the older part of the theatre is covered in a smooth plaster called stucco. It has a slate roof. The main entrance faces Williamson Square. This part has seven sections (bays) and is three stories tall. The middle three sections stick out a bit. They have a decorative top part called a pediment.
On the ground floor, the middle sections have three entrances. These lead to a covered porch. Above each entrance is a decorative frame (architrave) with a fan-shaped window (fanlight). The side sections have different entrances and some round, decorative windows.
On the middle floor, there are tall, flat columns (pilasters) between the sections. The three middle sections have a small railing (balustrade) and windows with a curved top part (tympanum) that holds a round decoration (roundel). The side sections have windows with a decorative ledge (cornice) and a round window above them.
On the top floor, there are round windows (oculi) between more flat columns. On top of the two side sections, there's a small dome (cupola) on top of short, simple columns. Inside the older part, there are two balconies. These are held up by strong cast iron columns. The inside is decorated in a style inspired by ancient Greek buildings.
The Newer Part's Modern Look
The newer part of the theatre is built from concrete and has lots of glass. On the ground floor, you'll find the entrance doors. Above this, the building is shaped around three large cylinders. The biggest cylinder starts on the first floor and goes up two stories. It sticks out from a central column without support from below (this is called cantilevered). To the left, there's a smaller cylinder that also sticks out from its own column. These cylinders fit together. Inside this whole modern section, there's a hollow column that holds the stairs.
Why the Architecture is Special
The Liverpool Playhouse is a very important building. It's listed as a Grade II* building in the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a particularly important building of more than special interest.
Experts have praised both parts of the theatre. The older section is important because it was an early work by a key person from the Liverpool School of Architecture. They liked the Greek style used. The newer section is called "a brilliant concept" that uses different shapes and spaces but still looks unified. It also balances well with the older Victorian part of the building. Architectural historians Richard Pollard and Nikolaus Pevsner said the newer section is "a spectacular composition." They felt it creates a feeling of excitement, which is perfect for a theatre entrance.
See also
- Architecture of Liverpool
