The Embassy Theatre is a theatre at 64 Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, in the London Borough of Camden, England.

Early years The Embassy Theatre was opened as a repertory company in September 1928 on the initiative of Sybil Arundale and Herbert Jay,Who's Who in the Theatre: Arundale, Sybil when the premises of Hampstead Conservatoire of Music were adapted by architect Andrew Mather.The Theatres Trust The following were some of its productions: The Yellow Streak, September 1928. This was the opening production, featuring Jeanne de Casalis,Who's Who in the Theatre: De Casalis, Jeanne Martita HuntWho's Who in the Theatre: Hunt, Martita and Cecil Parker.Who's Who in the Theatre: Parker, Cecil The play was praised by the writer Dorothy Richardson. The Seventh Guest, October 1928, a mystery melodrama with Cecil Parker and Margaret RawlingsWho's Who in the Theatre: Rawlings, Margaret

From September 1930 to March 1932, the theatre was directed by Alec L. ReaWho's Who in the Theatre: Rea, Alec L. and A. R. Whatmore.Who's Who in the Theatre: Whatmore, A. R. Productions included: Black Coffee (premiere), by Agatha Christie (her first play), December 1930, produced by André van Gyseghem,Who's Who in the Theatre: Van Gyseghem, André with Francis L. Sullivan as Poirot and also featuring Donald Wolfit. Carpet Slippers, December 1930, with Griffith Jones (his debut) and Sebastian Shaw Mary Broome, by Allan Monkhouse, December 1931, with Robert DonatWho's Who in the Theatre: Donat, Robert and Herbert Lomas.Who's Who in the Theatre: Lomas, Herbert This was a sudden and (still) unexplained substitution for the play originally announced, namely Chimneys by Agatha ChristieSunday Herald article on rediscovery of Chimneys Romeo and Juliet, February 1932, produced by A. R. Whatmore, with Sebastian Shaw as Romeo,Who's Who in the Theatre: Shaw, Sebastian Cecil Parker as Mercutio and George Coulouris as TybaltGeorge Coulouris at filmreferencce.com

Ronald Adam years Control then passed to Ronald Adam (also known as Ronald Adams), who remained at the helm until 1939. During that time, he made over 150 new productions and revivals, of which over thirty were then transferred to various theatres in the West End.Who's Who in the Theatre: Adam, Ronald The Embassy school of acting was opened in the theatre in 1932.British History Online: Hampstead Social and Cultural Activities Some of the more notable productions at the theatre were: Miracle at Verdun by Hans Chlumberg (translated by Edward Crankshaw), September 1932, produced by André van Gyseghem, with Derrick de Marney,Who's Who in the Theatre: de Marney, Derrick George Howe,Who's Who in the Theatre: Howe, George Alan Wheatley.Who's Who in the Theatre: Wheatley, Alan The production was then transferred to the Comedy. Ten Minute Alibi (premiere), by Anthony Armstrong, January 1933, with Robert DouglasWho's Who in the Theatre: Douglas, RobertTom Vallance, "Obituary: Robert Douglas" , The Independent, 23 January 1999. and Celia Johnson. The production then transferred to the Haymarket. The Glass Wall (premiere), by E. M. Delafield, February 1933, produced by André van Gyseghem, with Max Adrian.The Glass Wall synopsis and history All God's Chillun Got Wings, March 1933, produced by André van Gyseghem, with Paul Robeson and Flora Robson. Sometimes Even Now (premiere), by Warren Chetham-Strode, May 1933, with Jack Hawkins,Who's Who in the Theatre: Hawkins, Jack Celia Johnson,Who's Who in the Theatre: Johnson, Celia Marie LohrWho's Who in the Theatre: Lõhr, Marie Napoleon, September 1934, produced by André van Gyseghem, with Edward Chapman,Who's Who in the Theatre: Chapman, Edward John Clements,John Clements at filmreference.com Violet Farebrother,Who's Who in the Theatre: Farebrother, Violet Eric Portman,Who's Who in the Theatre: Portman, Eric Margaret Rawlings. The Dominant Sex (premiere), by Michael Egan,Who's Who in the Theatre: Egan, Michael December 1934, with Diana Churchill,Who's Who in the Theatre: Churchill, Diana Richard Bird,Who's Who in the Theatre: Bird, Richard René Ray.Who's Who in the Theatre: Ray, René The production then transferred to the Shaftesbury. Stevedore, by Paul Peters and George Sklar, May 1935, produced by André van Gyseghem, with Paul Robeson, Robert Adams, Kathleen Davis.Nancy Cunard, "Many Types Seen in London Cast of 'Stevedore' - Could Not Find Enough Americans So Africans Are Used", The Afro American, 15 June 1935. This Desirable Residence, by A. R. Rawlinson, May 1935, with Coral BrowneWho's Who in the Theatre: Browne, CoralSydney Morning Herald, 6 July 1935. Close Quarters (premiere), by W. O. Somin and Gilbert Lennox, June 1935, with Oskar Homolka (London debut),Who's Who in the Theatre: Homolka, Oscar Flora Robson.Who's Who in the Theatre: Robson, Flora The production then transferred to the Haymarket. Rivals! (premiere), by Herbert Hughes and John Robert Monsell, September 1935, with Winifred Campbell, Frederick Ranalow, Bruce Carfax, and Elsie French. Staged by Vladimir Rosing. Professor Bernhardi, June 1936, with Abraham Sofaer in the title role.Who's Who in the Theatre: Sofaer, Abraham and Max Adrian,Who's Who in the Theatre: Adrian, Max Noel HowlettWho's Who in the Theatre: Howlett, Noël The production then transferred to the Phoenix. Judgment Day (London premiere), by Elmer Rice, May 1937, with Glynis Johns,Who's Who in the Theatre: Johns, Glynis Catherine Lacey,Who's Who in the Theatre: Lacey, Catherine George WoodbridgeWho's Who in the Theatre: Woodbridge, George The production then transferred to the Strand. Three Set Out, by Philip Leaver,Who's Who in the Theatre: Leaver, Philip June 1937, directed by Margaret Webster, with Constance Cummings and Michael Redgrave Profit and Loss, May 1938, produced by André van Gyseghem, with Mabel Love (final appearance)Who's Who in the Theatre: Love, Mabel Julius Caesar, November 1939, in modern dress, with Joseph O'Conor (debut),Alan Strachan, Joseph O'Conor obituary, The Independent, 2 February 2001. Peter Copley, Hugh Griffith, Eric Portman

Ronald Adam's own list of significant transfers in that period was Ten Minute Alibi, Close Quarters, The Dominant Sex, Professor Bernhardi, Judgment Day.

Post-war period After war damage, the building was reopened in 1945, with a capacity of 678. It was then run until 1954 by Anthony Hawtrey. Notable productions included:

Quality Street, February 1945, directed by Anthony Hawtrey, with Joyce Blair (making her debut, aged 13),The Times obituary Joyce Blair Ursula Howells (making her London debut), Geoffrey Toone,Who's Who in the Theatre: Toone, Geoffrey Bryan Forbes, Gwendoline Watford, Linden TraversWho's Who in the Theatre: Travers, Linden. Myself a Stranger, August 1945, with Jack Allen,Who's Who in the Theatre: Allen, Jack Hugh Burden,Who's Who in the Theatre: Burden, Hugh Cecil RamageWho's Who in the Theatre: Ramage, Cecil R. Fit for Heroes, September 1945, directed by Henry Kendall, with Irene Vanbrugh, Helen Cherry, Jack Allen, Raymond Lovell, Olaf Pooley. The Gambler, adapted by Norman Ginsbury from Dostoevsky, November 1945, directed by Sebastian Shaw, with Hugh Burden, Ferdy Mayne, Gwendoline Watford. Red Roses for Me, by Seán O'Casey, February 1946, with Kieron O'Hanrahan,Kieron Moore obituary, Daily Telegraph Eddie ByrneTempleman collection of theatre programmes: Embassy Theatre National Velvet, 1946. Sense and Sensibility, 1946. Mrs Dane's Defence, 1946, with Mary Ellis.Mary Ellis obituary in The Independent Hattie Stowe, February 1947 Miranda, June 1947, directed by Richard Bird, with Nora Swinburne, Ronald Ward, Diane Hart Torwatletie, 1948, by Robert McLellan, with Roddy McMillan in the title role, production by Unity Players touring from Glasgow Portrait of Hickory, April 1948, with Judy Campbell. The Father (August Strindberg), November 1948, with Michael RedgraveWho's Who in the Theatre: Redgrave, Michael Scudamore A Woman in Love ("Amoureuse"), April 1949, adapted and directed by Michael Redgrave, with Margaret Rawlings On Monday Next (premiere), by Philip King, April 1949, with Henry Kendall, directed by him and Shaun Sutton, also with Leslie Phillips Othello, July 1949, produced by André van Gyseghem, with Michael Aldridge in the title role, and Peter Wyngarde, Maxine Audley. The Happy Family, March 1951, with Henry Kendall, Thora Hird and Tom Gill Caro William, premiere 1952, with Robert Shaw (London debut), Rachel Gurney. The Merchant of Yonkers, 1952, directed by André van Gyseghem, with Robert Eddison, Raymond Lovell, Sophie Stewart, Alfie Bass, Esma Cannon, Peter Baylis, Nigel HawthorneRobert Eddison at IMDb Uranium 235, by Ewan MacColl, May 1952, produced by Joan Littlewood with Harry H. Corbett, George A. Cooper, Avis Bunnage. Hamlet, March 1953 with Laurence Payne in the title role,Laurence Payne obituary, The Times George Coulouris, Christine Finn Twelfth Night 1953 with George Coulouris, Christine Finn The Boy Friend (premiere for full version) 1953 with Hugh Paddick.

In 1953, it was sold to Sidney Bernstein, with management by screenwriter and playwright Wolf Mankowitz. Notable productions included: The Bespoke Overcoat, 1954 The Lion in the Lighthouse, June 1955, with Henry Kendall (actor) The World of Sholem Aleichem, ca. 1955 The Boychik, ca. 1956

Central School The theatre was sold to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, who continue as the resident company, in 1956.

Notable productions have included the premiere of Mad Forest in 1990.

References

General references

Rob Wilton Theatricalia: Other Plays 1900-1939 Rob Wilton Theatricalia: Other Plays 1940-1949 Rob Wilton Theatricalia: Other Plays 1950-1959

External links Cullum and Nightingale, Architects' Journal, September 2003