Liverpool Playhouse facts for kids
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Star Music Hall,
Star Theatre of Varieties, Liverpool Repertory Theatre |
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Liverpool Playhouse
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 Liverpool Playhouse
Location in Merseyside
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| Address | Williamson Square Liverpool England |
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| 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 | |
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The Liverpool Playhouse is a famous theatre in Williamson Square in Liverpool, England. It first opened in 1866 as a place for musical 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 actors and actresses who later became very famous started their careers here. The building has changed over the years. A modern part was added in 1968. Since 1999, the Playhouse has been managed together with the Everyman Theatre.
Contents
History of the Playhouse
The theatre building you see today was designed by Edward Davies. It 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 and the entrance hall. Electricity was also installed, which was very modern for the time!
In 1911, a group called the Liverpool Repertory Theatre Limited was formed. They wanted to create a special theatre where actors could perform many different plays. They bought the Star Theatre for £28,000. This was a big deal because it was the first repertory theatre in Britain to own its own building. They spent another £4,000 to make the theatre even better and more modern. Stanley Adshead, a professor of design, helped redesign the inside.
The theatre was managed by Maud Carpenter for many years. Its name changed to the Liverpool Repertory Theatre, and then in 1916, it became the Liverpool Playhouse. Small changes were made in 1961 and 1966. In 1968, a new, modern section was added to the theatre. This new part included new entrance areas, bars, dressing rooms for actors, and a workshop.
In the 1990s, the theatre company faced some difficulties. But in 1999, a new charity group called the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited was created. They helped the theatre reopen. Today, the Playhouse is managed jointly with the Everyman Theatre.
Famous Actors Who Started Here
From 1922 to 1944, a man named William Armstrong was in charge of the theatre and its acting company. He was very good at choosing plays and helping actors develop their skills. Many actors who became big stars in London's West End theatre district got their start at the Playhouse under his guidance.
Some of these famous actors include Diana Wynyard, Richard Bird, and Robert Donat. Other future stars who learned their craft at the Playhouse were Michael Redgrave, Rex Harrison, and Robert Flemyng. Even famous writers and performers like Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence worked with the company when they were child actors.
Other well-known performers who gained experience at the Liverpool Playhouse include Lilian Braithwaite, Cecil Parker, John Gregson, Clive Brook, C. Aubrey Smith, Richard Burton, Patricia Routledge, Anthony Hopkins, and Richard Briers. It's amazing how many talented people passed through its doors!
Theatre Design
The Liverpool Playhouse has two main parts: an older section and a newer, modern section.
Older Section Design
The outside of the older part of the theatre is covered in a special plaster called stucco. It has a roof made of slate. The main entrance faces Williamson Square. This part of the building has seven sections, or "bays," and is three stories tall. The middle three sections stick out a bit and have a decorative triangular top part, called a pediment.
On the ground floor, the central sections have three entrances. These entrances lead to a porch that is set back from the street. Above each entrance is a decorative frame with a fan-shaped window. The side sections have different types of entrances and windows.
Inside the older part of the theatre, there are two balconies. These balconies are held up by strong cast iron columns. The inside decorations are in a style called Greek Revival, which looks like ancient Greek buildings.
Newer Section Design
The newer part of the theatre is made of concrete and has a lot of glass. On the ground floor, there are entrance doors. Above this, the building is designed around three large cylinder shapes. The biggest cylinder starts on the first floor and goes up two stories. It sticks out from a central column without support from below, which is called being "cantilevered."
To the left of the largest cylinder is a smaller one. This smaller cylinder also sticks out from its own column and fits together with the larger one. Inside these cylinders, there is a hollow column that holds the stairs.
Why the Design is Special
The Liverpool Playhouse is considered a very important building. It is a "Grade II* listed building," which means it's a special historic building that needs to be protected. It was given this status on March 14, 1975.
Experts say that the older part of the theatre is important because it was an early work by a key architect from the Liverpool School of Architecture. They liked its Greek style. The newer section is also highly praised. People describe it as a "brilliant concept" that uses different shapes and spaces in a clever way. It manages to look unified and also fit well with the older Victorian part of the building.
Architectural historians have called the newer section "a spectacular composition." They say it creates a feeling of excitement and anticipation, which is perfect for a theatre entrance.
See also
- Architecture of Liverpool
