London Theatres

by Michael Coveney, Peter Dazeley (Photographer)

This fully revised and updated edition of the hugely successful London Theatres features ten additional theatres , including the Victoria Palace Theatre, the Sondheim Theatre, the Bridge Theatre and the Noël Coward Theatre.
 
London is the undisputed theatre capital of the world . From world-famous musicals to West End shows, from cutting-edge plays to Shakespeare in its original staging, from outdoor performance to intimate fringe theatre, the range and quality are unsurpassed.
 
Leading drama critic Michael Coveney invites you on a tour of more than 50 theatres that make the London stage what it is. With stories of the architecture, the people and the productions which have defined each one, alongside sumptuous photographs by Peter Dazeley of the auditoriums, public and backstage areas, this illustrated overview of London's theatres is a book like no other. A must for fans of the stage!
 
Praise for the first
‘This coffee table whopper ... dazzles’ Spectator
‘ London Theatres ... will surely feature on any theatre buff's present list’ Sightlines

New chapters included in the second
Victoria Palace Theatre; The Bridge Theatre; Menier Chocolate Factory; Hampstead Theatre; Sondheim Theatre (formerly Queen's Theatre); Harold Pinter Theatre, Noël Coward Theatre; Aldwych Theatre; Garrick Theatre; Vaudeville Theatre; Phoenix Theatre
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre, London, British Literature, Travel, Art, History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

Michael Coveney is one of Britain's most respected theater critics and has written about theatre for over three decades, as editor of Plays and Players, and as staff critic on the Financial Times, Observer and Daily Mail. His books include a history of the Glasgow Citizens Theatre and biographies of Maggie Smith, Mike Leigh and Andrew Lloyd Webber. He regularly contributes to the Independent, Guardian, Observer, New Statesman, Prospect and BBC Radio's Front Row. He lives in England.

Reviews

[Nicki Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book appealed to me the moment I saw it listed on Netflix. I am a huge theatre fan and I used to spend a lot of time in London's many theatres before my move to Australia. London Theatres therefore inspired a degree of sentimentality in me, and I loved my trip down memory lane, seeing again the interiors of theatres in which I've enjoyed some amazing performances. As well as stunning photos, each theatre in the book also receives a wonderful, insightful commentary on its history, making London Theatres a must read for any UK theatre fan. I enjoyed the book so much, and it makes such a lovely coffee table read, that I'll be adding it to my wish list to get a print copy in the future. It is certainly a book I could return to and enjoy flicking through again and again.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for any theatre aficionado, whether you simply sing along to cast recordings in the car or religiously attend live performances. There is no doubt that the London theatre scene is one of the greatest in the world (and in history). I've managed to visit half of the theatres featured in this book and it was a treat to read their histories and get a peek backstage. There are plenty of interesting anecdotes about the actors and productions that have graced these stages. The accompanying photographs are a wonderful mix of grand auditorium architecture and charming decorative details. As a bonus, the foreword has been supplied by the great Mark Rylance.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

With its new inclusions, London Theatres is a beautiful and glorious collection of some of London's most stunning public spaces. I loved having the opportunity to explore the beauty and history of these magnificent halls. Michael Coveney's new edition is a must-have for theatre lovers. I can't wait to travel back to the UK and experience these wonderful theatres with renewed appreciation, now with deeper meaning.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Full of beautiful pictures, this book details all of London's main theatres. It came up with a few I had never heard of and a few I have seen performances in. I'm going to have to make a theatre booket list in my bullet journal!

Read as part of Dewey's 24 hour readathon.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really satisfyingly heavy coffee table book! The photographs of the theatres (for the most part not involving any show branding, which is good, because it'll make the book have more longevity) are GORGEOUS and I now want to visit all the ones I haven't yet been to. There are also some really interesting stories - lots of murder in London theatres, who knew? - as well as architectural information, which was less interesting to me as a theatre fan but definitely gives the book a broader audience!

Yay theatre!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love London theaters!! As someone who has traveled to London from the US for the sole purpose of going to the theater I knew that I needed to read this book. I can now honestly say that I know waaayyy more about the theaters than I knew before. This book gave a lot more information than I was expecting. Covering everything from the history of the building, renovations, owners, stand out productions, ghosts, etc. Clearly the book was well researched and I could tell that it was written by a biographer who knows the theater well. Some of the descriptions were a bit long for my taste which lead to some skimming but it was probably all needed to be a complete bio of each theater.

The photographs were gorgeous. I did have issues with some of them being blurry on my iPad but I am going to assume this is not an issue in the print book. I've seen a couple dozen shows at couple dozen theaters in London so it was fun to see the inside of the house and try to remember if I have been to a show there or not. My favorite pictures were of the things that the average theater-goer does not get to see. The dressing rooms, the rigging system, the fire safety lantern ax, etc. This book added a few more theaters to my bucket list and if I have to sit through a high-quality theater production to see the building so be it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Frances Lincoln for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

London Theatres is a beautifully written and photographed homage to the iconic venues of London's theatre districts. Released 6th Oct 2020 by Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a timely and beautiful book. Especially now, when most theatre venues are closed or severely curtailed during the pandemic, it's refreshing (and nostalgic) to get an intimate look at these stately gorgeous interiors and read some background history. The venues range from formal to informal, incredibly lush and opulant to minimalist, historical to modern. The background info is well written and accessible with notes on their history and origins as well as little known trivia and tidbits.vMost of the entries cover 3-5 pages and give a good glimpse behind the scenes. It's the gorgeous color photos which awed me most, I think. The production quality is very high and the authors had access to areas backstage which the public never sees.

This would make a wonderful gift for theatre fans, as well as a superlative choice for library acquisition. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

London Theatres (New Edition) by Michael Coveney is a beautiful book that highlights many of the great theatres of London.

As someone from a long way away, the USA, this is a wonderful way to experience to at least some degree the beauty of these structures. Only one of my trips to London included going to the theatre and the one I went to is not included, so this book is a lot less expensive (though admittedly less fun) than making enough trips to visit each one.

I think what I most enjoyed, even more than the pictures, was the descriptions and history of each. Coupled with the images each theatre becomes a very real place for the reader. Speaking of the photographs, I thought there was a wonderful mix of the broad views (from the stage or from the back toward the stage) with details. Those pictures of the smaller details are the things that can often be missed even by a frequent theatregoer.

This book should appeal to both fans of the theatre as well as readers interested in architecture and photography.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having loved the original London Theatres I was interested to see that a new edition had been released. The inclusion of previously missed 'newer' theatres like The Bridge Theatre and the Menier Chocolate Factory is a welcome addition and adds to the book's overall appeal, since it now covers a wider range of London's performance spaces. Perhaps in a future release we'll even get the Jermyn Street theatre! London has so many theatrical venues, though, that to mention them all would create quite a tome, so I can understand the need to draw the line somewhere, and the recent inclusions do fill the slight gap that existed in the original edition. Overall, this remains a superb work, with a beautiful balance of interesting text and beautiful photographs. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves London's theatre scene, and, indeed, theatres and theatrical history in general.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be a delight! The photographs were beautiful and artfully done. The accompanying history and snippets of theater lore about each of these amazing theaters were so fascinating! It made me want to visit each one of these theaters so that I could appreciate even more in person. I could feel the reverence and love the writer had for each of these monumental structures was evident on every page. I think anyone who has any interest in theaters, architecture, London, or history, in general, would adore this book.

[Jane(Janelba) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a book about the theatres of London. I really enjoyed the tour of London theatres and the history of the them. There are some real gems that I hadn't heard of. The history is accompanied by some beautiful and stunning photos throughout the book. A real pleasure to read and look at.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

London is an iconic City, rich in culture and a huge factor in most people's visit is usually getting to see some sort of show whilst there.

Filled with rich, colourful images we can feel like we are there viewing the theatre's ourselves as we glimpse backstage, witness the spacious capacity the theatres accommodate for and read up on the history of all the theatre's and how they came to be.

I really enjoyed this book and for me it was great to read about the history behind the few theatres in London I have personally been to and watched a show at, if you have an interest in history, London, theatre's or photography I'm sure you will enjoy this book too.

Many thanks to the publisher's for allowing me to review this book for them!

[Willy Marz Thiessam · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to spend a week roaming around London with a walking tour guide who is very erudite about London theatres then tis is the book for you. No need for the airplane, this book makes you feel that you have been there and know all the gossip about every theatre of any note in London.

I really enjoyed this book. Sure the gossip was just a bit too obscure but that kind of lent to the charm of the book. I ended up enjoying this very companionable narrative that leads you all around the theatres. A brilliant coffee table book that can be enjoyed again and again.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a beautifully written and researched book with some magnificent photographs. Each London theatre mentioned is given a life history on its origins and how it came to be, from all the various name changes some of them have had to the extensive restoration which most London theatres need to thrive and survive. You couldn't help but marvel at the work which must have gone in to writing this book and the information needed about each theatre. I have been lucky enough to have visited a lot of them and I enjoyed reading the history of each place in question. Thoroughly recommended.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book to read and enjoy. The pictures of the theaters were amazing and I really enjoyed the history of each theater, all the little hidden gems that each has and is hidden from the audience but known to actors was fun and interesting to read about. The things that make each theater unique and special. Lots of well known theaters and those that are hidden gems. Beautiful book and stories.

[Eddie Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for all the interesting historical facts and especially for the lavish photos. A coffee table delight sure to please fans of London theatre.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an uncertain time for theatre, this collection of photos and text is a perfect memorial of the finest city in the world for the stage.

[Wendelle]

A tour of London theatres, both old and new, in their glimmering splendor

[Dirk Hennebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful review in words and pictures of London’s rich theatre tradition. The articles meet everyone’s taste, whether it is architecture or London theatre history. Must read for any theatre freak.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been to many of these theatres it was nice to find out more about them.

[Camila · Rating 3 out of 5]

*This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.*
London Theatres goes through time and through the streets of the British capital to show us, as the title says, London theatres. It's quite the journey and those who love theatre and know London will probably appreciate it. Sometimes it fell into random historical facts, which is a bit tedious if you don't know London too well, or history of British theatre. But it's nonetheless an interesting read!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cue redundant review time. If you like London Theatre (or just theatres, or just London) you will get no end of mileage from these pages. Every major working venue in the West End and elsewhere throughout the capital (well, minus a couple, like the Duchess) gets a similar treatment, of about six pages, and the text gives you just enough about the history, architecture and oddities of the playhouses, while the photos give insight to the view from the stage, or the Royal Box, in the star dressing room, or elsewhere as needed. I guess we see so little of the exteriors partly because of the signage to specific shows which would date the book, but a few of the permanent residencies are highlighted both visually and text-wise. A couple of quirks might prevent it from getting my rarefied five star status – some of the photos in the flytowers won't be for all, the two-word write-ups of some of the bars and lounges we get seem superfluous, and some technical terms were even new to me, making this not a hundred per cent accessible to all us plebs in the gods – but boy this production comes recommended. Just the Normansfield entry alone taught the reader enough to justify admission. Four and a half stars.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I'll mention it. "Covid"
The world is suffering a pandemic. It has closed our theatres. Taking with it the livelihoods of the theatre community. This book makes you long for the day when we can rush out and purchase our tickets. Not just for the performance. We need to take time when we go back to sit and really look at the buildings.
Michael Coveney has done than. We forget just how majestic some of these building really are. They are in themselves, works of art.
The books contain lots of information along with stunning pictures. Many of the auditorium and a lot of back stage.
Read this and you will long to go back. Lets hope they survive.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute must-have for theatre fans!!!
Not only is the info inside incredibly informative, but the photography is beautiful!!!

I like to think I am quite knowledgeable about the London theatre scene, and I still learnt a lot from reading. The photography shows images of the auditorium, as well as an insight to back stage areas too which I found fascinating.

I love how it included so many different London theatres, including some fringe venues too.
I am missing theatre so much at the moment due to Covid, and this book is a great celebration of everything London has to offer in terms of theatre. I just hope and pray that if this book comes out in a couple of years time, the theatres will still be going strong despite the pandemic.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for any theatre lover. Really useful information that covers a vast amount of theatre venues within London from smaller studio spaces to world renowned venues such as the Royal Albert Hall.

The photos that are used in this book are beautiful and help the reader transport themselves to the venue. The information is well presented and interesting; even an avid theatre goer will find out stories and facts that they have not heard before.

This book is a must for anyone who has a love for the theatre or wants to learn more about the industry and the wide ranging history that has seeped into the walls of the venues.

Thank you to Netgally and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for the ARC.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic coffee table book with a ton of interesting information. I thought it would be just pictures but there's so many details about each theater. The photos are beyond gorgeous!! I felt like I'd had a backstage pass to every London theater, with a private tour guide, and I never got off my couch in Australia! I will be buying a physical copy of this book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book filled to the brim with so much interesting history. I loved all the photo’s too.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

[J. d'Merricksson · Rating 4 out of 5]

***This book was reviewed for Quarto Publishing via Netgalley

Coveney’s London Theatres takes you on a photographic tour amongst some of the most beautiful of the theatres gracing London streets. There are eight chapters, showcasing some forty-five theatres. Among them are the Covent Garden Opera House, the Lyceum, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and the Savoy. There’s a richness of culture and history tucked in these pages. Information is given for each theatre, along with funny stories about plays and actors that have graced the various stages.

Full of gorgeous pictures, and stuffed with all manner of theatre history and trivia, this book is perfect for theatre or photography lovers.

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