Palace Theatre

The Palace Theatre, built between 1888 and 1891, was originally known as the Royal English Opera House. Designed by T E Collcutt and G H Holloway for Richard D'Oyly Carte, it is located on an island site at Cambridge Circus in the City of Westminster. The building features banded Ellistown red brick and Doulton's buff terracotta, with slate and lead roofs, showcasing Collcutt's Northern Renaissance style.

The theatre has four main storeys and a slightly concave front facing the Circus, which is divided into three main bays. These bays are accentuated by octagonal corbelled corner towers and similar inner turrets topped with domes, all crowned by a broad banded gable. The central area includes tripartite groups of arcaded doors beneath a glazed cantilevered canopy that extends to the sides. The windows are designed as mullioned transomed arcaded lights, which can be opened in summer, and feature moulded terracotta aprons, friezes, and cornices. Although much of the rich terracotta ornamentation has been removed, similar details can still be seen on the side elevations.

Inside, the theatre boasts a fine three-tier balcony auditorium, which was remodelled by F Emblin-Walker in 1908. The original stage boxes have been removed, and the marble and onyx wall claddings have been painted. A grand marble staircase with alabaster balusters enhances the interior. The theatre also retains substantial remnants of its machinery, which is of unique interest in London, as it features a mixed wood and iron system designed by Dando for the elaborate opera productions of the D'Oyly Carte company. After opera performances ceased, the venue became the Palace Theatre of Varieties in 1892. Notably, Pavlova made her first London appearance here on April 10th, 1910, and it has been known as the Palace Theatre since 1911.