The Stage

Gielgud Theatre signs to follow original design

Published Tuesday 27 March 2007 at 14:50 by Nuala Calvi

Cameron Mackintosh is to introduce new period signage to the Gielgud Theatre, in an attempt to recapture the original look of the listed building.

The Gielgud and Wyndham’s theatres are currently being given a facelift and plans are now with Westminster City Council to remove the existing signs at the Gielgud, install new external lighting and extend the main canopy along Shaftesbury Avenue, creating a look more in keeping with the theatre’s original 1907 design. Meanwhile, both venues could also face temporary closure during the summer for a complete overhaul of their auditoria. Some £1.25 million has been spent on the Gielgud and £700,000 on the Wyndham’s.

Extensive cosmetic improvements to the front of house and backstage areas are currently ongoing, but no big structural changes have as yet been made.

The Gielgud has already had new carpets and seats fitted in the stalls and grand circle ahead of the opening of Equus, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths.

Architects Renton Howard Wood Levin are now using early archive images of the nearby Queen’s Theatre to come up with a design for an impressive new canopy that will be unveiled at the end of June.

The 100-year-old drawings include torches and shields and featured less prominent show advertising than currently. The new design may also feature stained glass.

Richard Johnston, chief executive of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, told The Stage: “The front of the theatre currently has advertising covering the front, promoting Equus, and behind that we are renovating and restoring the facade and will be putting up new show and theatre signage when Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe leave the production in June.

“Cameron is seeking to upgrade and repair all his theatres. Delfont Mackintosh only took over the running of the Gielgud just over a year ago and the Wyndham’s 18 months ago and he wants to ideally get all his theatres up to the same standard. At some stage, yet to be determined, we expect to carry out a full auditorium redecoration and we would need to close them for a number of weeks.”

Delfont Mackintosh operates seven West End theatres, including the Queen’s, Prince of Wales, Novello, Noel Coward and Prince Edward.

A new cooling system is being installed at the Novello theatre and the Noel Coward, Prince of Wales and Prince Edward have also undergone improvements.