The Empire Theatre

The following building shall be added:

SJ 3590 NW LIVERPOOL LIME STREET

50/1362 The Empire Theatre

GV II

Theatre. Brier 1924-5 for Moss's Empires Ltd; designed by W & T R Milburn. Carving and auditorium ornament by E 0 Griffiths of Liverpool. Steel frame clad in Portland stone (to front) and brick. Roof material not visible. Foyer and stairs; very wide auditorium (with balcony) designed to seat an audience of 2,450. Free neo-Classical style. Front: 1:3:1 bays, the central bays with Attic courses over dentilled cornice; paired and single Ionic columns in antis (1:2:2:1) with windows between set in bold aedicules and with octagonal openings above. 1st floor cornice. Ground-floor with 3-light windows over entrances to foyer. Steel canopy with medallions and guilloche decorative bands. Central bays (except Attic) rusticated. Side bays lower with parapets; 1st floor windows in architraves flanked by shallow pilasters; 1st floor cornice. Door and window in shallow recess. Stone cladding returns one bay to either side with similar fenestration. Many altered window openings to rear and sides (which are not designed to be seen). Interior: seating raked up to sides as well as to rear to maximise visibility. Decoration in free 'Louis XVI' style: coved ceiling with deep lateral arches and elaborately treated fan vaults (concealing lights) to front angles of auditorium; all-over decoration to the nodding praesceneum arch, and to side walk of orchestra pit. Many curious decorative features including carved elephant caryatids. The theatre was noted for its advanced planning; the long rows of seats sloping up on either end were designed to heighten a sense of audience participation as well as improving sight lines towards the stage.

Refs include The Builder, April 1925.

Listing NGR: SJ3506790665