The English architect Frank Matcham was responsible for the design and refurbishment of around 164 buildings, mostly theatres, throughout the United Kingdom.Wilmore, pp. 178–183. He entered the architectural profession when he was 21, in 1874, and joined the practice of J. T. Robinson, his future father-in-law, a few years later."Growing Up on the English Riviera" by Gorel Garlick; Wilmore, p. 49. Matcham completed his first solo design, the Elephant and Castle theatre, in June 1879, having taken over Robinson's practice upon his death.Mercer Walker, p. 3. He founded his own practice, Matcham & Co., in 1883 which experienced much prosperity."The Matcham Office at Work" by John Earl; Wilmore, p. 92. His most successful period was between 1892 and 1912, during which there was an increased demand for variety theatres which resulted in the closure and dismantlement of many music halls, which had become outdated.Earl, pp. 28–29.
Although being more prolific in the provinces, Matcham is perhaps best known for his work in London under Moss Empires, for whom he designed the Hippodrome in 1900,Earl and Sell, pp. 117–118. Hackney Empire (1901),Earl and Sell, p. 114. London Coliseum (1903),Earl and Sell, p. 121. Shepherd's Bush Empire (1903),Earl and Sell, p. 141. London Palladium (1910),Earl and Sell, pp. 122–123. and the Victoria Palace in 1911.Earl and Sell, p. 145. He seldom ever strayed from theatrical design but on occasion, renovated public houses and, in 1898, designed a number of buildings for the redevelopment of Briggate in Leeds, including the Cross and County Arcades.Mercer Walker, p. 18.
Matcham retired to Southend-on-sea, Essex, shortly before the First World War, and left his business, Matcham & Co., to his business partners, R.A. Briggs and F. G. M. Chancellor. Matcham died in 1920."Mr Frank Matcham Dead", Western Daily Press, 19 May 1920, p.10.The Architects' Journal, 26 May 1920, p. 682. Many of the 164 buildings that he either designed or rebuilt during his 40-year career, were demolished in the 1960s. There are currently around 52 known structures that survive, as of 2017. According to the dramatist, Alan Bennett, "there was scarcely a town in the United Kingdom that didn't boast one of Matcham's theatres and, though scores have been lost, enough remain to testify to the achievement of someone who was undoubtedly [the U.K's] greatest theatrical architect."A Preface to Frank Matcham & Co., by Alan Bennett; Wilmore, p. 4.
Key +Explanation of the three listed building grades Grade Criteria"Listed Buildings: Categories of listed buildings", Historic England, accessed 5 December 2017.I Buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important. Only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.II* Particularly important buildings of more than special interest; 8% of listed buildings are Grade II*.II Buildings of national importance and special interest; 91.7% of all listed buildings are in this class and it is the most likely grade of listing for a home owner.
Buildings Surviving theatres Date TheatrePhotograph LocationNotes Grade 1891Everyman TheatreCheltenhamBuilt as an Opera House, from which it took its original name, for the Cheltenham Theatre and Opera House Company. It was renamed the Everyman Theatre in 1960.Mercer Walker, p. 122.II 1894Grand TheatreBlackpool, EnglandBuilt at a cost of £20,000 for Thomas Sergenson for the intended use of a drama theatre. The exterior was built using brick with stone dressings and the plasterwork in the auditorium was carried out by the Plastic Decoration Company, who were based in London. The Grand was listed as Grade II in January 1972, and closed later that year. Because of its listing, permission to demolish it was refused the following year. The theatre remained closed until 1977, when it received a £200,000 renovation.Mercer Walker, pp. 125–126.II* 1894Theatre RoyalWestgate, WakefieldBuilt as a drama theatre at a cost of £13,000 on the site of the 18th century Theatre Royal. Matcham's building was originally named the Opera House and is the smallest of his existing theatres. It became a cinema in 1955 and in 1966, a bingo hall.Mercer Walker, p. 124. In 2012 the Theatre received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a £2.6 million restoration project.II* 1897Grand Theatre, LancasterLancasterFirst opened as "The Theatre, Lancaster" in 1782 before being turned into a music hall in 1843; extended in 1857; altered and renamed 'The Athenaeum' in 1884; Matcham's involvement was to add the fly tower in 1897 as part of alterations; re-opened as "The Grand Theatre" in September 1908.II* Grand Opera HouseGreat Victoria Street, BelfastWarden Ltd instructed Matcham to design a theatre for drama and circus performers and was built in the oriental style on an open corner plot to create a three-dimensional build up from the low corners to the higher gabled centrepiece. The dome-shaped minarets are the only surviving oriental motifs on any of Matcham's interiors. The author Brian Mercer Walker describes the theatre as being "...by far the most notable surviving example of any theatre in the United Kingdom, decorated in [oriental] style."Mercer Walker, pp. 128–129. The building was threatened with demolition in the 1970s but was saved by a campaign, led by the Ulster Architectural Society. As a result, it became the first listed building in Northern Ireland,"History and Heritage", Grand Opera House official website, accessed 12 December 2017. although its grading has never been made public.Mercer Walker, p. 128.Listed 1899Richmond TheatreRichmond upon ThamesOriginally known as the Theatre Royal and Opera House. The theatre is of red brick with buff terracotta dressings. The facade is of 4 storeys. The entrance canopy is a modern addition. The interior features a marble and wood panelled entrance hall and staircase and an elaborately decorated auditorium.II*16 July 1900Gaiety Theatre Douglas, Isle of ManIn 1976 the restoration began under the direction of architect and theatre expert, Victor Glasstone. The theatre underwent further restoration, under the direction of Mervin Stokes, MBE, from the 1990s to replicate its 1900 opening condition in time for the centenary celebration in 2000. Exactly 100 years after opening, on 16 July 2000, the centenary was celebrated with a performance of "The Telephone Girl" which opened the Gaiety in 1900 and following which was a performance of "The Corsican Brothers," a popular play which in Victorian times and a special 'Corsican Trap' was constructed for the performance. It is believed to be the only working Corsican Trap in the World. Another unique feature of the theatre is the working Act Drop depicting a dancing lady. 1900Theatre RoyalUpper Parliament Street, NottinghamRestorations and alterations by Matcham of an existing theatre by C.J. Phipps in 1884. Phipps built his theatre on the site of Landport Hall that existed there from 1854, but was turned into a theatre two years later. The interior decoration is intact and much unaltered. Matcham's nautical theme in the auditorium of ships, dolphins, anchors, mermaids and shells around the circle and boxes is still much evident.II* 1900London HippodromeCity of Westminster, LondonThe Hippodrome is contained within a block also comprising a public house, shops, and chambers, all designed by Matcham. The theatre was built as a circus and then altered, in 1909, to a theatre of varieties. The theatre survives but has been radically altered internallyMercer Walker, p. 168. and is now a casino and entertainment complex.Variation of Casino Premises Licence – The Hippodrome Casino, 10–14 Cranbourn Street, WC2", Westminster City Council, accessed 13 December 2017.II1901Hackney EmpireHackney, LondonBuilt for Oswald Stoll, who initially intended for it to become his headquarters, before changing his mind and relocating to the Central London. The change of plan, midway through construction, resulted in a drastic reduction in budget for the Empire in order to raise extra finances for Stoll's eventual headquarters, the London Coliseum."The Matcham Office at Work" by John Earl; Wilmore, pp. 102–103. Matcham rushed together a secondary, more cheaper design of the Empire's façade and presented it to Stoll on a piece of scrap tracing paper."The Matcham Office at Work" by John Earl; Wilmore, pp. 104–105. It was an exterior design that Matcham always loathed but was one, according to the historian Michael Sell, that demonstrated the architect's "seemingly endless powers of invention" and one that will "forever remain[ed] a landmark"."The Matcham Office at Work" by John Earl; Wilmore, p. 105. The auditorium is noted by Historic England as being "one of the most exuberant Matcham interiors in Britain", while the theatrical author, Brian Walker, called the Empire's interior "the most perfect Matcham interior in Greater London.Walker, p. 52.II*1901Theatre RoyalNewcastle upon TyneGranted its Royal licence by King George III, the Theatre Royal Newcastle opened on Drury Lane off Mosley Street in 1788 and soon established itself as one of England’s leading theatres.
In February 1837, the Theatre moved to Grey Street, a flagship building in Grainger and Dobson’s famous city plan. It features what is generally regarded as the finest Theatre façade in the UK, later combined with a fine 1901 auditorium by the great Theatre architect, Frank Matcham, after the original interior had been destroyed by fire during a performance of Macbeth in 1899. 1903Shepherd's Bush EmpireShepherd's Bush, Hammersmith, LondonTheatre, later a television studio for the BBC.Mercer Walker, p.172. It features an Arts and Crafts influence which, according to Historic England, was unusual for Matcham. Largely altered from the original design.II 1903Olympia Social ClubWest Derby Road, LiverpoolOpening in April 1905, Liverpool Olympia was designed as a purpose built indoor circus and variety theatre by renowned architect Frank Matcham. The venue enjoys a rich history within the performing arts, having hosted a variety of theatrical and music productions, with performers as diverse as Harry Houdini and The Beatles! It has also housed a cinema, dance hall and a bingo hall over its 100+ year life span, becoming one of the first cinemas outside of London to upgrade from silent movies to “the talkies” in 1929.
In 1990 the current owners purchased the Grafton Rooms, next door to Olympia, and while operating this as a successful nightclub, they began refurbishing the Olympia to bring it back to life after several years of closure.