Hippodrome, London

Infobox Theatre
name = London Hippodrome


caption = Fill image
address = Charing Cross Road
city = Westminster, London
country =
designation = Grade II listed
latitude =
longitude =
architect = Frank Matcham
owner = European Leisure
capacity = 1340 seated (1909)
type = circus and variety shows
opened = 1900
yearsactive = 1900 - 1983
rebuilt = 1958
closed =
othernames = 1958 Talk of the Town 1983 London Hippodrome 2004 Cirque at the Hippodrome
production =
currentuse = Corporate hire
website = www.hipevents.co.ukThe Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square in the City of Westminster, London. The name was used for many different theatres and music halls, of which the London Hippodrome is one of only a few survivors. The name "hippodrome" was derived from animal acts forming a significant part of the entertainment. The venue is now used for corporate hire.

History

Hippodrome

The London Hippodrome was built in 1900 by Frank Matcham for Edward Moss for £250,000 as a hippodrome for circus and variety performances. The venue gave its first Circus show on 15 January 1900 [ [http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Archive/September2003/FrontPage.htm "London Hippodrome" (Special feature, Sept 2003, Arthur Lloyd)] accessed 18 Oct 2007] . Entry to the venue was through a bar, dressed as a ship's saloon and the performance space featured both a proscenium stage and an arena that sank into a 230 ft, 100,000 gallon water tank (400 ton, when full) for aquatic spectacles. The tank featured eight central fountains, and a circle of fountains around the side. Entrances at the side of the auditorium could also be flooded, and used for the entry of boatsTheatre Programme for 30 July 1900, see Arthur Lloyd site] . Shows included equestrian acts, elephants and polar bears, and acrobats would dive from a "Minstrel Gallery" above a sliding roof, in the centre of the proscenium arch. The auditorium featured cantilevered galleries, removing the columns that often obstructed views in London theatres, the whole was covered by a painted glass retractable roof, that could be illuminated at night. The building included the headquarters of Moss Empires [ [http://www.hipevents.co.uk/ Hip events (History section)] accessed 18 Oct 2007] .

Theatre 1909-1951

In 1909, it was reconstructed by Matcham as a music-hall and variety theatre with 1340 seats in stalls, mezzanine, gallery, and upper gallery levels. It was here that Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" received its English première by the Russian Ballet in 1910. The Albert de Courville (1887-1960) revues were performed here from December 1912.

Its reputation was for revue and musical comedy, among them "Mr. Cinders" (1929) and Ivor Novello's "Perchance to Dream" (1938), and from 1949 to 1951 it became the London equivalent of the Folies Bergères.

Talk of the Town

In 1958, the original interior was demolished and the London Hippodrome was converted into the cabaret restaurant, "Talk of the Town", featuring many of the popular artists of the time, including appearances by Judy Garland [ [http://www.btinternet.com/~judyin.london/judyil10.htm "Judy wows 'em with songs to remember" James Green (fan site)] accessed 18 Oct 2007] , Eartha Kitt,Shirley Bassey [Shirley Bassey "Live at Talk of the Town" (#38 1970)] and The Temptations [1970 "Live at London's Talk of the Town (Temptations album)"] . The Seekers' final concert was recorded for the album " in 1968. This form of entertainment, in its turn fell out of public favour, and the venue closed in 1982.

Night club years

Renovated yet again, the building was reopened as a nightclub/restaurant called "The London Hippodrome" by nightclub tycoon Peter Stringfellow in 1983. Some years later, Stringfellow sold it to a chain company called European Leisure. Under the stewardship of David Chipping and then Nigel Collinson the club went on to win many BEDA and DI awards, regularly attracting crowds in excess of 2,000. Following its sale to Luminar the club soon went out of fashion and it wasn't until April 2004 that the Hippodrome regained its standing when it was transformed into "Cirque at the Hippodrome". The interior was taken back to hues of reds and golds and Burlesque was the theme. Cirque at the Hippodrome won the BEDA award for best UK nightclub in 2004.

It was revealed in October 2005 that the club had lost its public drinks licence and would no longer be able to serve alcohol as the local police didn't want what they called 'vertical drinking' in Leicester Square. The police also shut down most of the venues in the local area. Following this, in December 2005, the club was eventually forced to close, following reports of violence involving rival gangs after they had left the building. The Hippodrome is now an Event space for private parties and corporate hire.

The Hippodrome is currently undergoing an extensive restoration programme taking it back to Matcham's original designs for use as a casino pending a casino licence.

Hippodrome Re-Opens As A Performance Space

On 2 October 2008, the London Hippodrome re-opens as a theatre performance space operated by a family run business, who have reattained a liquor licence for the venue. The first show called "La Clique" is a contemporary variety/cabaret show and has been sold out around the world and more recently at the Edingburgh Fringe Festival.

References

* "Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950", John Earl and Michael Sell pp. 117-8 (Theatres Trust, 2000) ISBN 0-7136-5688-3

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External links

* [http://www.hipevents.co.uk/ Official website]
* [http://www.lacliquelondon.com/ La Clique website]
* [http://www.richardmmills.com/talk1.html 'Talk of the Town' performances]
* [http://www.jivenation.co.uk Jive Nation] run Modern Jive (a.k.a CEROC) dance classes with freestyle events every week at the Hippodrome
* [http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/LondonHippodrome.htm History of the London Hippodrome]