Pen and wash on board, image size 61 cm x 50 cm., board size 70 x 60, framed. Signed at bottom right "IN 3 / 85".
Originally commissioned by Richard D'Oyly Carte, what is now known as the Palace Theatre was designed by architect Thomas Edward Collcutt, and opened in 1891, with a production of Ivanhoe, by Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan). Its first life as the Royal English Opera House was short lived in spite of the success of the opening production. Sullivan leased it to Sarah Bernhardt for a season before putting it for sale, after which it became a renowned music hall, known as the Palace Theatre of Varieties. Along with its theatrical billing, it started showing film. Famous stars to grace the stage include the Marx Brothers, performing their show in the 1930s, transferred from Broadway. In the 20th century is became predominantly a theatre for popular musicals, including No, No Nanette (1920s), The Sound of Music (1960s), Jesus Christ Superstar (1970s), Les Mis (1980s-90s). Since 2016 it has been the home of the Cursed Child, the theatre offering of the Harry Potter series.
A superb drawing, bright and unfaded, from the restoration of this magnificent theatre which occurred under the ownership of Andrew Lloyd Webber (who bought the theatre in 1983). The drawing dates from 1985 and had been in the collection of John Jaques, architect, whose firm was responsible for the restoration, which removed traces of an all-but disastrous remodelling in the early part of the century. The identity of the draftsman is not now known. The detailing of the drawing is superb, incorporating a fanciful rendering of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's initials in the plasterwork above the central door.
