175. Consorts’ Visit to the London Coliseum, Friday 19 April 2024


Courtney Lambert, Consort to (and daughter of) Master Elise Rasmussen of the Tobacco Blenders & Pipe Makers, organised a visit to the London Coliseum for Consorts, and also for a party from her own Livery Company.

Martin and I do go to events at the London Coliseum from time to time, but I really couldn’t remember what the last occasion was.  “Pirates of Penzance”?  “Don Quixote”?  Nothing since Covid, I think.  The next production, in May, will be the European premiere of “Spirited Away”.

We were greeted by Louise, one of our two guides for the afternoon, and given a brief history of the building.  It was opened in 1904, designed by the architect Frank Matcham for the impresario Oswald Stohl who wanted a building for entertainment that was of higher quality than music halls, family friendly and not vulgar.  In addition, the place was “dry”, initially.  The consortium was not able to purchase quite all the land they wanted for the building, so there are some odd angles providing strange nooks and crannies.


The Sadler's Wells Opera Company moved into the building in 1968, changing its name to the English National Opera in 1974.  The building is also the London home of the English National Ballet.  There is a commemorative plaque to the late great Lilian Baylis of the Sadler’s Wells Company.

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