Peacock Theatre

The Peacock Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Portugal Street, near Aldwych. The 999-seat house owned and comprises part of the London School of Economics campus, who use the theatre as a large lecture theatre, and for public talks and speeches. The university hires the theatre out to commercial companies, including Sadler's Wells who operate the array of dance performances, conferences, pop concerts and award ceremonies. The stage is approximately 36 feet by 33 feet.

The magnificent London Opera House was originally built on the site and opened on November 13, 1911. It was built by Bertie Crewe for Oscar Hammerstein II with a large 44'8" by 78' stage and had a capacity of 2,660. From 1914-15, the house was known as the National Theatre of England, until it was purchased by Oswald Stoll in 1916 and renamed the Stoll Theatre and, for a time, as the Stoll Picture Theatre, housing Cine Variety until the 1950s. Rose Marie played at the Stoll Theatre in 1942, followed by Kismet, Porgy and Bess and Stars on Ice in 1947. Joan of Arc at the Stake was produced in 1954.

The theatre closed in 1957 and was demolished. The present, smaller theatre was built and christened The Royalty Theatre in 1960, located on the basement level of an office building. It was the first West End theatre to be built since the Saville Theatre in 1931. The MGM film Ben Hur played at the theatre in 1961. Mutiny on the Bounty played next, and the theatre was then equipped for screening Cinerama films and became London's third Cinerama theatre (the others being the Casino Cinerama and the Coliseum Cinerama). The theatre only premièred one Cinerama film, The Golden Head, however. In 1966, the house returned to live theatre use. The Royalty Theatre's only successes were a run of the hit Oh Calcutta and a hit production of Bubbling Brown Sugar in the late 1970s. Spectacular 'follies' style shows and 'drag' shows didn't find an audience, and the theatre became used as a TV studio for This is Your Life, but was later bought by the London School of Economics and renamed the Peacock Theatre.

When Sadler's Wells determined to build its new theatre in 1996, the company moved to the Peacock Theatre. After the new Sadler's Wells Theatre opened in 1998, the Peacock became a dance venue for the company. The Rat Pack played at the theatre in 2002, and Doldrum Bay premièred here in 2003. The house is now shared between the London School of Economics (during the day) and Sadler's Wells evening dance productions. Currently Jump is playing at the theatre. The theatre is reputed to be haunted. 28 Mar 2007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacock_Theatre