22 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 IHBC Annual School 2010 IHBC Annual School 2009 IHBC Annual School 2010 which can lead to conflicts of which we are all aware. Some of these conservation dilemmas, and ways of overcoming them, were illustrated in our tour of local theatres. Displaying appropriate missionary zeal, our enthusiastic and expert guide for the morning was Mark Price of the Theatres’ Trust. Our tour started at the London Hippodrome, situated on the edge of Leicester Square. Originally built in 1900, and listed Grade II*, it was constructed, as its name suggests, to house circuses, and included a vast tank for water spectacles. The circuses only lasted for about 10 years, following which it was converted to a variety theatre. It is currently best-known for its cabaret use from 1958 to 1983, when it was known as the Talk of the Town. While its exterior remains more or less intact, much of the interior is being rebuilt for use as a casino. Needless to say, this would not have been the first choice of the Theatres Trust. However, a pragmatic approach has had to be taken to saving the building, not least because of its poor condition and the costs of removing large amounts of asbestos. Our inspection of the cavernous interior showed that, while a great deal of the original interior had been lost over the years, as much as possible of the remaining fabric was being retained, while allowing the building to function in its new use. As in all refurbishments, during the course of works some surprising survivals have been found. In this case, an original art work by Rolf Harris was discovered, painted directly on to the wall of the manager’s office. It is being carefully protected during the works and will be preserved for enjoyment by future generations of theatre lovers. While its artistic worth might be debatable, its contribution to the significance of the building due to its connection to previous cabaret activity is undeniable. It will be interesting to pay a return visit when the works have progressed further. Our next stop was the recently refurbished Wyndham’sTheatre on Charing Cross Road.The contrast between its newly restored interior and the gutted shell of the Hippodrome could not have been more extreme. The Grade II listed theatre was completed in 1899 to the design of architect William Sprague. The decor is in the Louis XVI style, with ceilings in the auditorium, main foyer and dress circle bar painted in the manner of the French artist Francois Boucher. It is one a handful of West End theatres owned by Sir Cameron Macintosh and the sixth to undergo major renovation. Remarkably the £3 million contract was completed in only four months. Profit margins in the West End are such that a theatre can not afford to remain dark for long. We were impressed by the care and attention which had been paid to the works of restoration, bringing the original blue, cream and gold colour scheme back to life. Equally of note was how services had been renewed as discreetly as possible, new seats had been added and sightlines improved without harming the character of the interior. The improvements had included the installation of air conditioning. Anyone who has sat through a performance in aWest End theatre on a hot summer’s evening will appreciate that aspect of the work. It is interesting to speculate whether such refurbishments should strictly follow SPAB principles. After all, a theatre is about gloss, glitter and fantasy. Perhaps works of renovation should take that aspect of their significance on board. The remaining part of the morning was taken up by The theatres tour group being shown plans for the London Hippodrome (see front cover photo)
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