Description

In the entry for:-
TQ 3080 NW ST MARTIN'S LANE, WC2
72/109 Nos 32 to 35 (consecutive)
The Coliseum Theatre
20.9.60 (English National Opera)
II*
The address and description shall be amended to read:
ST MARTIN'S LANE, WC2
Nos 32 to 36 (consec)
The Coliseum Theatre
(English National Opera)
Grand theatre. 1902-04 by Frank Matcham, originally built for (Sir) Oswald Stoll.
No 36 now a shop with offices over. Channelled terracotta facing, painted over,
slate roofs. Exuberant Free Baroque ambitious design, the Edwardian "Theatre de
Luxe of London" with richly decorated interiors and a vast and grandiose auditorium.
3 main storeys. Asymmetrical facade with a lofty tower to the right and a shorter
pavilion-tower to left, and a further south wing with shop. Triple arcaded
entrances approximately in centre with polished red granite columns and voussoirs
and finely executed decorative woodwork to doors and frames; 2 storeyed voussoired
archivolt arched entrance at foot of main tower adjoining to right. Elaborately
architraved windows to 1st floor; Ionic colonnaded shallow loggia storey above the
massively bracketed balconies and 3 pedimented aedicules, 2 to left and one to right
of tower. Entablature and crowning balustrade. The left pavilion-tower has a
2 storey arch framing shop front above which quoin pilasters with richly embellished
caps flank 2-storey bow; tiled dome with lantern, behind parapet. The main tower
has balconied Venetian window at loggia level and rises first to elaborate cornice
enriched with cartouches, then as Ionic peristyle with figure sculpture at corners
supporting advanced coupled columns, entablature and balustrade surmounted by
pedestalled ball finials to corners, drum with oculi and stepped dome surmounted by
(formerly revolving) large metal and glass globe. Lavish foyer and circulation
areas with marble facings, culminating in vast 3-tier auditorium with wealth of
eclectic classical detail of Byzantine opulence, some motifs such as the squat
columns dividing the lowest tier of slip boxes, backing the stalls, almost
Sullivanesque; pairs of 2-tiered bow fronted boxes with domed canopies at gallery
level and semi-domed, Ionic-columned pairs of 2 tiered orchestra boxes, contained in
arched and pedimented frames surmounted by sculptural groups with lion-drawn
chariots. Great, semi-circular, blocked architrave proscenium arch with cartouche-
trophy keystone. Auditorium walls articulated in elaborated bays by decorated piers
finished off as coupled pilasters and columns below classical relief frieze; massive
coupled brackets carry beams of decorated ceiling with large ribbed dome, etc. When
built the Coliseum was London's largest theatre with the latest machinery including
triple-revolve (disused) and a counterweight system and cyclorama track, still in
use, as well as being uniquely equipped with lifts to upper floors. The Coliseum is
one of Matcham's finest achievements and very little altered apart from the painting
of the exterior.
The Theatres of London; Mander and Mitchenson.

------------------------------------

TQ 3080 NW CITY OF WESTMINSTER ST. MARTIN'S LANE, WC2
72/109
Nos. 32 to 35(consec: )
20.9.60 The Coliseum Theatre
(English National
Opera)
- II*
Grand theatre. 1902-04 by Frank Matcham , originally built for
(Sir) Oswald Stoll. Channelled terracotta facing, painted over, slate
roofs. Exuberant Free Baroque ambitious design, the Edwardian "Theatre de
Luxe of London" with richly decorated interiors and a vast and grandiose
auditorium. 3 main storeys. Asymmetrical facade with a lofty tower to the
right and a shorter pavilion-tower to left, and a further south wing with
shop. Triple arcaded entrances approximately in centre with polished red
granite columns and voussoirs and finely executed decorative woodwork to
doors and frames; 2 storeyed voussoired archivolt arched entrance at foot
of main tower adjoining to right. Elaborately architraved windows to 1st
floor; Ionic colonnaded shallow loggia storey above with massively
bracketed balconies and 3 pedimented aedicules, 2 to left and one to right
of tower. Entablature and crowning balustrade. The left pavilion-tower
has a 2 storey arch framing shop front above which quoin pilasters with
richly embellished caps flank 2-storey bow; tiled dome with lantern, behind
parapet. The main tower has balconied Venetian window at loggia level and
rises first to elaborate cornice enriched with cartouches, then as Ionic
peristyle with figure sculpture at corners supporting advanced coupled
columns, entablature and balustrade surmounted by pedestalled ball finials
to corners, drum with oculi and stepped dome surmounted by (formerly
revolving) large metal and glass globe. Lavish foyer and circulation areas
with marble facings, culminating in vast 3-tier auditorium with wealth of
eclectic classical detail of Byzantine opulence, some motifs such as the
squat columns dividing the lowest tier of slip boxes, backing the stalls,
almost Sullivanesque; pairs of 2-tiered bow fronted boxes with domed
canopies at gallery level and semi-domed, Ionic-columned pairs of 2 tiered
orchestra boxes, contained in arched and pedimented frames surmounted by
sculptural groups with lion-drawn chariots. Great, semicircular, blocked
architrave proscenium arch with cartouche-trophy keystone. Auditorium
walls articulated in elaborated bays by decorated piers finished off as
coupled pilasters and columns below classical relief frieze; massive
coupled brackets carry beams of decorated ceiling with large ribbed dome,
etc. When built the Coliseum was London's largest theatre with the latest
machinery including triple-revolve (disused) and a counterweight system and
cyclorama track, still in use, as well as being uniquely equipped with
lifts to upper floors. The Coliseum is one of Matcham's finest
achievements and very little altered apart from the painting of the exterior.
The Theatres of London; Mander and Mitchenson.

Listing NGR: TQ3012680662

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• London Coliseum at Wikipedia
• London Coliseum official website
• Wikidata Q1868965

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
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  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
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  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)