Bertie Crewe

Bertie Crewe (died 10 January, 1937 in London) was one of the leading English theatre designers in the boom of 1885 to 1915

Biography

Partly trained by Frank Matcham, Crewe and his contemporaries W.G.R. Sprague and Thomas Verity, were together responsible for the majority - certainly more than 200 - of the theatres and variety palaces of the great building boom which took place in Britain between 1885 and 1915, peaking at the turn of the century [ [http://www.thelondonseason.com/newvenues.htm new venues in London ] ] Crewe became known as one of the most dynamic architects of the 1890s-1900s, specialising entirely in theatres and later cinemas.

Crewe trained in Paris and London, where as a young man he was a frequent visitor to Frank Matcham’s home. Up to the mid 1890s Crewe collaborated with Sprague, producing the Lincoln Theatre Royal as well as a number of theatres around London. It was after he branched out on his own that he developed what was to become his characteristic Baroque-influenced style. His work around the turn of the century was marked by horizontal balconies tied to ranges of stage boxes and elaborate ornamental features. [ [http://www.corpoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/lma_learning/theatreland/text.asp?ID=334 LMA Learning Zone > Theatreland > Architects > Bertie Crewe (d.1937) ] ]

Crewe's last project, joint with Henry G. Kay was the Regal, Kennington Road (opened 17 November 1937) by the Arthur O’Connor circuit. Designed as split theatre-cinema, the Edwardian Kennington Empire would have been in decline by the time of building. [ [http://www.merciacinema.org.uk/gallery1004.htm Gallery ] ]

After death

After World War II, those theatres that were not destroyed by bombing were in the way of redevelopment. Film and television were the future, while live theatre was dead on its feet. The idea of listing and preserving any of these useless old relics would have been considered laughable. The great building boom of 1885 to 1915 was matched between 1950 and 1975 by the greatest theatre demolition. In that 25-year period, in Greater London alone, 35 theatres were demolished. Of these, 20 were by Matcham.

Along with the rehabilitation in the last 20 years of Matcham, Crewe has re-established himself. In 2004, the Palace Theatre in Redditch (built 1913) completed a record £3.7 million face lift. A now rare example of Edwardian theatre, the theatre was successful in bidding for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Experts believe the Grade II-listed theatre is one of only six examples that can be fully attributed to Bertie Crewe. [cite news
author=
title=Rare theatre revamped to its best
date=2006-01-23
work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/4639830.stm
accessdate=2008-08-10]

Trainees

* Cecil Masey - designs include Stanford Hall Theatre, Loughborough. Trained in Crewe’s office working on the large theatres and music halls that Crewe designed before the First World War, and in the early 30s had worked for Sidney Bernstein on the creation on the Granada cinema circuit, including the famous Tooting Granada. At Stanford, the interior design was by J. E. Redding & Smith; and the safety curtain and various interior mural works by Beatrice MacDermott. [ [http://www.merciacinema.org.uk/gallery0605.htm Loughborough Cinemas ] ]

Theatres

His list of theatre designs include:

References

* "Theatre London: An Architectural Guide", Edwin Heathcote, ISBN 1-84166-047-7

External links

* [http://www.corpoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/lma_learning/theatreland/text.asp?ID=334 Corporation of London page on Bertie Crewe]
* [http://www.thisistheatre.com/londontheatre/index.html List of London Theatres and their history]
* [http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/main/database.html Theatre Trust dBase]
* [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/lma_learning/theatreland/timelines20.asp London Theatreland History]
* [http://www.arts-info.co.uk/PAGES2/lt_IRELAND.htm Ireland Theatre history Index]
* [http://www.arts-info.co.uk/pages/THEATREARCHITECTS2000.asp List of British Theatre Architects]
* [http://members.iconn.net/~ab234/Theaters/RoyalCourt.html Royal Court theatre]
* [http://www.urban75.org/brixton/history/regal.html Article on conversion of the Regal, Kennington] Crewe's last project
* [http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/TheatreArchitects.htm Theatre Architects and details of their Theatres]