Saville Theatre - a new permanent home for Cirque du Soleil?

[dominion99]

After two unsuccessful applications to turn it into a hotel, the Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, currently the Odeon 1 and  2, has been saved for the nation. Of interest to musical theatre fans for it was home to Gay's The Word (Novello), Expresso Bongo (Heneker/Norman/More), Valmouth  (Wilson), Candide (Bernstein) and Anything Goes, Mackintosh's first West End production, that ran there ever so briefly from November 18-29 1969. With a seating capacity 0f 1300, it makes for a wonderful addition to theatreland in London. Of special interest is the main bas-relief frieze depicting drama through the ages, modelled by Gilbert Bayes. Go take a look!

[JJShaw]

I hope one day it can return to a theatre, gorgeous facade, although its a larger capacity more theatres mean more shows!

[oxfordsimon]

Although the name has nothing to do with one of the nastiest people of recent times (and is a different spelling), it is impossible to imagine the original name being retained in any reopening.

[alece10]

That thought never entered my mind. I just thought of Saville Row.

[oxfordsimon]

Savile is one of the most reviled names in the UK. I know there is zero connection but I hear the name of the theatre and I make the link. Perhaps it is just me. But the Savile legacy is so toxic, it is hard to ignore

[TallPaul]

The biggest beneficiary of a reopened Saville would probably be the Shaftesbury Theatre which, without any close neighbours, never fully feels part of Theatreland. And by being part of the same mini-chain, both would benefit from sharing some of their costs and all of their expertise.

There's just the small matter of the millions it would cost. After all his years in showbiz, Donald Taffner must surely have contacts!

[danb]

Its a funny one isn’t it? Out there on its island, quite near to stuff but not adjacent...perfectly walkable but grates on you a bit...I’m the same about the Adelphi & Savoy. At least they have a pizza hut and a zizzi.

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2021 18:23:11 GMT oxfordsimon said:

Savile is one of the most reviled names in the UK. I know there is zero connection but I hear the name of the theatre and I make the link. Perhaps it is just me. But the Savile legacy is so toxic, it is hard to ignore

Its pronounced Sa-Ville.

[Phantom of London]

Changing the name would be necessary and actually a nice problem to have, as it would mean it would be being used for a higher and better use.

[musicalmarge]

A GREAT read

www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/SavilleTheatre.htm

[TallPaul]

An interesting development. Not just a new owner, but a new owner that is also behind the new theatre at Olympia.

www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/former-west-end-venue-saville_55262.html

[Mark]

I've been to it a few times as an Odeon and it's a huge project to turn it back into a theatre. That said, its a fantastic location and I really hope in a couple of years time we may see a West End theatre reborn.

[craig]

Mar 24, 2021 12:32:59 GMT musicalmarge said:

A GREAT read

www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/SavilleTheatre.htm

Really enjoyed reading this - I'd always assumed it was a theatre because of the fascinating frieze across the front of the building but had never thought to investigate its history. It would be a wonderful addition to the west end if it becomes a theatre again.

[danb]

Mar 24, 2021 1:44:48 GMT Phantom of London said:

Changing the name would be necessary and actually a nice problem to have, as it would mean it would be being used for a higher and better use.

Would it though? Would it not just highlight the issue more? There must be so many words that could potentially trigger people? Saville Row is still called the same thing. I’m not saying that his victims don’t deserve respect and acknowledgment, I just think that renaming things unrelated is a step too far.

[inthenose]

Should the performer Oliver Savile have to change his name? Is it wrongthink to see a show if he's in it?

[barrowside]

I would like to see it keep it's historic name. It would be a lovely addition to London's collection of Art Deco theatres if it's restored to use. I presume the original interior is lost but I'm sure something lovely could be done to reinstate it.

[Jon]

I wonder how much of the original theatre still exists inside the Odeon Covent Garden? I assume it was either demolished when they converted into a cinema 50 years ago or it's covered up.

I would imagine Trafalgar Entertainment would end up operating and restoring the theatre as the developers are involved in the Olympia Theatre which Trafalgar are going to be operating in a few years time. 

[mkb]

I'm going to take a contrary view on this. The West End has a plethora of high quality theatres, but not so many big cinema screens. The four-screen Odeon would be a sad loss to the West End if this goes ahead.

[Mark]

Nov 5, 2021 19:11:52 GMT mkb said:

I'm going to take a contrary view on this. The West End has a plethora of high quality theatres, but not so many big cinema screens. The four-screen Odeon would be a sad loss to the West End if this goes ahead.

The screens here though are pretty standard size. I’ve been to the Covent Garden odeon maybe 4-5 times this year and aside form Cruella, there was less than 10 people in.

[mkb]

Screen 1 has a large, curved, scope screen with masking but no curtains. There is actually space, with the right projector lens, for an even larger screen. I don't have notes on the other three screens but my recollection is that one other is large and two are medium-sized.

My last visit to screen 1 was for an early Sunday evening showing of the Danish film "Another Round" which had a decent turnout of about 30.

[marob]

I’m sad to see it close. I’ve only ever been there a handful of times, but managed to catch a few films my local Odeon would never show in a million years. I just hope they make it into a modern auditorium, rather than trying to restore it. There’s enough horribly outdated theatres in the West End as it is.

[max]

Do you think it could work in its current formation as a West End venue offering its former Screens as Fringe/Off-West End spaces? With the loss of the mini studio at the old Trafalgar Studios we could do with some more that give West End esteem to studio scale work - without it having to scale up in a way that isn't viable, or spoils the work artistically.

[danb]

There are spaces like that if you look hard enough. I wish that the ICA was used more…does it even exist any more? I think a new ‘perfect’ sized W/E house would be more appealing so that everyone isn’t constantly chasing The Adelphi, Phoenix or the Noel Coward in an attempt to at least break even.

[Jon]

I get the feeling Odeon were willing to let the Covent Garden cinema go given they have plenty of cinemas within that vicinity, it's telling they refurbished the Haymarket venue and turned it into a Luxe cinema which is in a less desirable location and not the Covent Garden venue.

[max]

Nov 5, 2021 23:13:48 GMT Jon said:

I get the feeling Odeon were willing to let the Covent Garden cinema go given they have plenty of cinemas within that vicinity, it's telling they refurbished the Haymarket venue and turned it into a Luxe cinema which is in a less desirable location and not the Covent Garden venue.

True, the Haymarket Odeon building is a non descript box, but a few luxury hotels and the bustle of Leicester Square wins it commercially I guess.  Probably easier and cheaper to convert that to a Luxe than any work on 'The Saville'.  The Prince Edward had most of its life as a cinema until 'Evita' 40 plus years ago, and a lot of traders that end of Soho credited it with reviving the area, so I'm looking forward to what 'The Saville' might bring to the shy end of Shaftesbury Ave.