91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Plaque

St James's Theatre - SWET

Inscription

Theatreland - heart of the performing arts in London.
St James's Theatre
On this site stood the St James's Theatre, demolished in 1957 despite an epic campaign of protest led by Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier. George Alexander, manager from 1890 - 1918, staged both Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" for the first time.
A joint venture by the City of Westminster and the Society of West End Theatre.

Site: St James's Theatre (3 memorials)

SW1, King Street, 23-24

The passageway between the pub and the modern building houses the SWET plaque and the Olivier relief. The other 3 reliefs are at the far end of the passageway.

We believe the reliefs used to adorn the balconies of the first building to replace the theatre, now demolished.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Subjects commemorated i

St James's Theatre

FineArtAmerica have a photo.

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Sir George Alexander

Actor-manager. Ran the St James's Theatre from about 1891 until his death in ...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Vivien Leigh

Born Darjeeling, India.  She and her husband Laurence Olivier, managed the St...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier

Born Dorking, Surrey, as Laurence Kerr Olivier. With his wife Vivien Leigh, h...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Oscar Wilde

Born in Dublin as Oscar Fingal O'Flaherty Wills Wilde. 'Importance of Being E...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Created by i

Society of West End Theatre/London Theatre

1908 Formed as West End Theatre Managers. 1976 By now it is called Society o...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Westminster City Council

The ancient parish of St Margaret's was divided into St Margaret's and St Joh...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
St James's Theatre - SWET

Also at this site i

St James's Theatre - 3 reliefs

St James's Theatre - 3 reliefs

The four bas-relief panels by Edward Bainbridge Copnall depict the heads of G...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

St James's Theatre - Olivier relief

St James's Theatre - Olivier relief

We choose this as our featured memorial in March 2007 since this year sees th...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Nearby Memorials

Pasqua Rosee's Head

Pasqua Rosee's Head

EC3, St Michael's Alley, Jamaica Wine House

This probably isn't a City of London plaque - though blue and oblong, the proportions are wrong, the style is different and its anonymous.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Benjamin Baker - W8

Benjamin Baker - W8

W8, Kensington Gate, 3

Sir Benjamin Baker, 1840 - 1907, civil engineer, designer of the Forth Bridge, lived here 1881 - 1894. English Heritage

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
RAF thanks from Denmark at St Clement Danes

RAF thanks from Denmark at St Clement Danes

WC2, Strand, St Clement Danes

These stones are laid in the ground to the right of the wreath that can be seen in our photograph. Left to right they are: Suez, Gang Sho...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Joseph Whitaker

Joseph Whitaker

EN1, Silver Street, White Lodge

Whitaker lived here from 1862 until his death here in 1895.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Henry James

Henry James

W8, De Vere Gardens, 34

Henry James, 1843 - 1916, Writer, lived here 1886 - 1902. London County Council 

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator