Coliseum Theatre

London Coliseum

The Coliseum Theatre London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties
London Coliseum in 2004
Address	St. Martin's Lane London, WC2 United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°30′35″N 0°07′35″W / 51.509722°N 0.126389°W / 51.509722; -0.126389
Public transit	Charing Cross; Leicester Square Charing Cross
Owner	English National Opera
Designation	Grade II*
Type	Opera house
Capacity	2,558 seats on 3 tiers (4 levels)
Construction
Opened	1904; 113 years ago (1904)
Rebuilt	2000–2004, Aedas RHWL
Architect	Frank Matcham
Website
www.eno.org

The London Coliseum (also known as the Coliseum Theatre) is a theatre in St. Martin's Lane, central London, built as one of London's largest and most luxurious "family" variety theatres. Opened on 24 December 1904 as the London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties, it was designed by the theatrical architect Frank Matcham for the impresario Oswald Stoll. Their ambition was to build the largest and finest music hall, described as the "people's palace of entertainment" of its age.

At the time of construction, it was the only theatre in Europe that provided lifts for taking patrons to the upper levels of the house, and was the first theatre in England to have a triple revolve installed on its stage. The theatre has 2,359 seats which makes it the largest theatre in London.

After being used for variety shows, musical comedies, and stage plays for many years, then as a cinema screening films in the Cinerama format between 1961 and 1968, the Sadler's Wells Opera Company moved into the building in 1968. The Sadler's Wells company changed its name to the English National Opera in 1974 and today it is used primarily for opera as well as being the London home of the English National Ballet.

The London Coliseum was built by the theatrical architect Frank Matcham who intended it to be one of London's largest and most luxurious "family" variety theatres. Construction started in 1903 and it opened on 24 December the following year as the London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties. It is located in St. Martin's Lane, London.

Matcham built the theatre for the theatrical impresario Sir Oswald Stoll and had the ambition of it being the largest and finest "People’s palace of entertainment" of the age.