Skip to main content

Strand Theatre

Venue Type & Location

Theatre

Overview

  • Address: 168-9 Strand, Westminster. For a current map, Click Here. For historical maps showing the venue (in addition to the one excerpted at right), Click Here, Here, and Here.

  • Alternate Names: New Strand Theatre, Royal Strand Theatre.

  • Performance Space Description: Information about this venue has not yet been compiled; however, some sense of the performance space may be gleaned by following the links at right. In particular:

  • See the 'Bibliographic Sources' link for a provisional list of venue-relevant resources (both primary and secondary). Wherever possible (i.e. when the pertinent text is relatively short and/or easily condensed) this material has been transcribed, and appears beneath the appropriate bibliographic citation.

  • See the 'Events at venue' link for a listing of blackface/minstrelsy-related events that took place in this performance space (with attached bibliographic references).

    Beth Marquis

  • Troupes at Strand Theatre

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    American Palmer, the Kentucky Banjo Player Palmer, Minstrel Definite American Palmer, the Kentucky Banjo Player
    American Southern Minstrels Minstrel Definite American Southern Minstrels
    Beyadere and Female Serenaders Jonia, Minstrel Definite Beyadere and Female Serenaders
    Beyadere and Female Serenaders Bono, Minstrel Definite Beyadere and Female Serenaders
    Beyadere and Female Serenaders Orinthia, Minstrel Definite Beyadere and Female Serenaders
    Beyadere and Female Serenaders Cleopatra, Minstrel Definite Beyadere and Female Serenaders
    Beyadere and Female Serenaders Alethea, Minstrel Definite Beyadere and Female Serenaders
    Bosjesmans Exhibition Definite Bosjesmans
    Burlesque Ballet Troupe Ballet Definite Burlesque Ballet Troupe
    Corrie, J. Corrie, Mr. J. Dramatic Definite Corrie, J.
    Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852) Templeton, H. Dramatic Definite Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852)
    Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852) George, Dramatic Definite Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852)
    Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852) Pearce, Dramatic Definite Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852)
    Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852) Price, Dramatic Definite Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852)
    Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852) Dumbolton, James A. Dramatic Definite Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852)
    Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852) Pearce, Minstrel Definite Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852)
    Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852) Dumbolton, James A. Minstrel Definite Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852)
    Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852) Templeton, H. Minstrel Definite Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852)
    Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852) Pell, Gilbert W. Minstrel Definite Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852)
    Female American Serenaders Yarico, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Hodson, G.A. Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Jumba, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Miami, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Cora, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Womba, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Woski, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Female American Serenaders Rosa, Minstrel Definite Female American Serenaders
    Morley (1846) Morley, Vocal Entertainment Definite Morley (1846)
    Russell, Henry Russell, Henry Vocal Entertainment Definite Russell, Henry
    Sharp, J.W. Sharp, J.W. Vocal Entertainment Definite Sharp, J.W.
    Strand Theatre Troupe (1842) Cooke, Miss Dramatic Definite Strand Theatre Troupe (1842)
    Strand Theatre Troupe (1842) Hall, H. Dramatic Definite Strand Theatre Troupe (1842)
    Unknown Minstrel Troupe (Strand, 44) Minstrel Definite Unknown Minstrel Troupe (Strand, 44)
    Vilain, Pierre, The Paganini of Western India Vilain, Pierre Band Definite Vilain, Pierre, The Paganini of Western India

    Events at Strand Theatre

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Corrie, J.
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Strand Theatre Troupe (1842)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Strand Theatre Troupe (1842)
    Concert - London, London (city-county) Sharp, J.W.
    Vocal Entertainment - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Dumbolton's African (Dramatic) Troupe (1852)
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Female American Serenaders
    Vocal Entertainment - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Female American Serenaders
    Concert - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Beyadere and Female Serenaders
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) American Southern Minstrels
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Vilain, Pierre, The Paganini of Western India
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) Unknown Minstrel Troupe (Strand, 44)
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) American Palmer, the Kentucky Banjo Player
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) American Palmer, the Kentucky Banjo Player
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) American Palmer, the Kentucky Banjo Player
    Dramatic - London, London (city-county) American Palmer, the Kentucky Banjo Player
    Vocal Entertainment - London, London (city-county) Morley (1846)
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Dumbolton's Serenaders (1852)
    Variety - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry
    Variety - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry
    Ballet - London, London (city-county) Burlesque Ballet Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Bosjesmans
    Vocal Entertainment - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry
    Vocal Entertainment - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry
    Vocal Entertainment - London, London (city-county) Russell, Henry

    Bibliographic Sources

    • Bell’s Life in London May 9, 1847: 3:2 .
    • London: The Library Association, 1970
      pp. 230-1.
    • (Under Entertainment - Theatre & Shows - Theatres & Venues - Strand Theatre)
    • London: Adam and Charles Black, 1863


      “THE STRAND THEATRE, 169 Strand, was originally built for the exhibition of a panorama, but was altered in 1831 into a theatre” (215).
    • London: H.G. Clarke & Co., 1851


      “THE STRAND THEATRE, Strand. Built by Mr. Rayner, the comedian, on the site of Baker's Panorama. It is a small yet neat theatre, and is principally confined to the production of vaudevilles and other light comic pieces (127).
    • New York: Benjamin Blom, Inc., 1925
      pp211-216.
    • Leipsic: Karl Baedeker, 1885


      ”ROYAL STRAND THEATRE, Strand, near Somerset House. Comedies, opera bouffes, and burlesques” (38).
    • London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1868


      “STRAND THEATRE, No. 169, Strand, originally Barker's Panorama, was altered in 183[?] for Rayner, the low comedian, and Mrs. Waylett, the singer. Here were produced Douglas Jerrold's early plays. The theatre has since become famous for its burlesques” (788).

      Also gives the theatre’s capacity (in 1866) as 700 (789)
    • London: David Bogue, 1855
      pp720-1.

      The information provided within this source is much the same as that given within the 1868 edition of the book.
    • London: H.G. Clarke & Co., 1851


      The information provided within this source is similar to that given within London in all its Glory, also published by H.G. Clarke, & Co.

      In addition, this source also contains the following:
      “168, Strand […] It was at one time under the management of Mrs. Waylett, by the influence of whose talents it acquired a high reputation, and afterwards under that of the late Mr. W.J. Hammond, when it also enjoyed a large share of public support, Mrs. Nesbitt and Mrs. Stirling gracing it with their presence; here, Mr. Douglas Jerrold, for a short time, appeared on the stage, in one of his own admirable dramas; and here, too, when under the management of Mr. W. Farren, that admirable actress, Mrs. Glover, fulfilled her last engagement on the stage, previous to the evening of her farewell benefit at Drury Lane, an evening which she only survived a few days. Lessee, Mr. G. Purday. Doors open at half-past six; performances commence at seven. Admission: stalls, four shillings; boxes, three shilings [sic]; pit, one shilling; gallery, sixpence. Second price to the boxes only at nine o clock” (217).
    • Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2001


      Cruchley’s Guide in 1841 described this theatre’s entertainments as “operas, burlettas and ballets” (186).