This theatre in Soho’s Old Compton Street was constructed in 1930. It was named after Prince Edward (who became Edwards VIII, and then the Duke of Windsor) and opened in April 1930. Josephine Baker performed her famous ‘Banana Dance’ in this theatre.
In 1935, the theatre was converted into a dance and cabaret hall, and was renamed the ‘London Casino’. During WW2 (in May 1941), it was badly damaged by German bombs and in 1942 it reopened as the ‘Queensberry All Services Club’. Shows for service personnel were staged here and then broadcast on the BBC. After the war, it reverted to the ‘London Casino’ incarnation (this photograph is from 1947) before, in the 1970s, going back to its original name.
Image: Photographer unknown
‘Mary Poppins’ is the production currently occupying the theatre. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the theatre was dark at the time of this photograph in September 2020.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two photographs. Use the slider in the centre.
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