Adelphi Theatre painted black for latest show

The Adelphi Theatre is one of the most popular and well-known theatres in London’s West End but it recently became the subject of some criticism after it was painted black to promote its new show Love Never Dies.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, who owns the Adelphi Theatre, came under fire for painting the exterior of the theatre in black gloss paint before permission was received from Westminster Council.

The council’s report said: “The works have changed the character and appearance of the theatre and harmed its special architectural and historic interest, and also the Covent Garden conservation area’s character and appearance,”
Although one of their planning officers said the damage was “unacceptable” it looks like the matter has been settled on the basis that the appearance of the theatre will be restored to its former appearance after the show has ended.
The current Adelphi Theatre was originally designed by Ernest Runtz who designed the theatre to be decorated in a modernist 1930s art-deco style with cream tiles and was notable at the time for its complete lack of curves in the design; it is mostly straight lines and angles.

What we know today at the Adelphi Theatre was opened in December 1930 with the musical Evergreen and went on to run various musical and comedy shows. Some of the longer running shows include the musical comedy Me and My Girl which ran for almost eight years after opening in 1985. The Broadway classic Chicago was also well received by audiences and ran from 1997 until 2005. The musicals Evita and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat also graced the stage at the Adelphi before the new show, Love Never Dies, opened earlier this year.
The Adelphi was threatened by demolition in the 1960s when developers wanted to use the area to build offices but luckily was saved and extensively restored to its former glory in 1993 when Andrew Lloyd Webber became co-owner of the theatre.

Visitors to the Adelphi often comment on its art deco design and if you are lucky enough to be able to visit this impressive theatre then the clean line design is best seen from the outside by the glazed window, from looking out of the window in the Dress Circle Bar or from the front of the two circles and side boxes.