Closed 2002 | Opened February 1946 | |
Addresses Villiers Street, City of Westminster, London Similar Charing Cross Theatre, Westminster Theatre, Greenwich Playhouse, Erith Playhouse, RADA Studios | ||
Hattie jacques at the players theatre
The Players' Theatre opened at 43 King Street, Covent Garden, on 18th October 1936. The club originally mounted period-style musical comedies, introducing Victorian-style Music Hall in December, 1937. The threat of World War II German bombing prompted a move in October 1940 to a basement at 13 Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, and then, after the cessation of hostilities, to Villiers Street, Charing Cross, opening on 14th February, 1946. Other intermediate locations of the theatre include the Arts Theatre and the St John's Wood private residence of a member, Francis Iles (Anthony Berkeley). Overwhelmed by debt, the theatre closed in 2002.
Contents
Appearing at the Players' Theatre were Leonard Sachs (who was often the chairman), Patricia Hayes, Hattie Jacques, Peter Ustinov, Clive Dunn, Ian Carmichael, Joan Sterndale-Bennett, Vida Hope, and Denis Martin, who eventually became Director of Production.
In 1967 the music label Decca Records issued an LP A Night of Music Hall from The Players' Theatre, (London's Victorian Theatre) with 19 songs and duets encompassing a typical evening at the Players, chaired by Don Gemell. The artistes recorded were Miss Stella Moray, Mr Maurice Browning, Miss Margaret Burton, Miss Patricia Rowlands, Miss Hattie Jacques, Mr John Rutland, Miss Joan Sterndale Bennett, Miss Josephine Gordon, Mr Robin Hunter, Miss Daphne Anderson, Mr Clive Dunn and Mr Bill Owen, with Mr Peter Greenwell and Mr Geoffrey Brawn (piano). At the time of the recording the membership of the theatre club was over 5,000.
The name of the nightly show was 'Late Joys' which derived from a hotel on the site of the building at 43 King Street: 'Evans' - Late Joy's', Joy having been the owner of the song and supper room before a comedian from Covent Garden, Evans took over.