The Garrick Theatre (not to be confused with an earlier Garrick Theatre in Leman St, Whitechapel) is named after English actor, playwright and theatre manager David Garrick and first opened on Wednesday 24^th April 1889 on Charing Cross Road with A W Pinero’s play The Profligate. The theatre was designed by architect Walter Emden with subsequent modifications by C J Phipps for W S Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame) and was built by Messrs Peto Brothers. Some speculation exists that the relationship between Emden and Phipps may not have been entirely amicable, but this is hardly surprising bearing in mind the complicated nature of the project. Construction was delayed by the discovery of an old river which had existed since Roman times but had been covered over for several hundred years, leading to Phipps’ amendments to Emden’s original design.

The 140 foot frontage was constructed entirely from Portland Stone and Bath Stone. Inside, the subterranean design meant that the Dress Circle could be accessed directly from street level. Original interiors designed by Heighway, Kusel and Depree welcomed patrons with polished walnut and marble in the Italian Renaissance style and the auditorium was furnished in white, cherry and gold by Messrs Gregory. The auditorium extended to four levels, Stalls/Pit Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle and Gallery and accommodated 1500 patrons (quite where they would all have fitted is a mystery) although this was reduced to around 1250 in 1912. Capacity was reduced still further with the closure of the Gallery benches in the middle of the 20^th Century and today the theatre holds closer to 730 – half the original capacity. Stalls and pit patrons were treated to an unusually high level of in-seat luxury including space for a stick or umbrella, space to hang an overcoat or a shawl and store programmes and even a box for top hats!

Lit by electricity, there was a supplemental gas backup in the event of any loss of power (which was not uncommon in the early days of electrical supply) and a heating and hot water system ensured that the auditorium was comfortable for patrons at all times.

The Garrick’s design was praised for its consideration of egress, with multiple exits on each level, its good ventilation and fire safety features. Most pleasantly surprising to its first audiences was the generous number of toilets – something still highly prized by theatregoers today. Dressing rooms were housed in separate block and featured hot and cold water and baths – luxuries virtually unknown to actors before the late 19^thCentury.

The Theatre’s first manager was John Hare who also starred in several early productions including as Lord Dangars in The Profligate. Another early success, also a Pinero play, was The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith, again starring Hare.

In 1900, actor/manager Arthur Bourchier took over the lease and went on to stage many notable productions, including W S Gilbert’s The Fairy’s Dilemma (originally titled Harlequin and the Fairy’s Dilemma). Often starring in productions himself alongside his wife, actress Violet Vanbrugh, Bourchier’s initial tenure lasted for six years, but he would return again in 1912 to run the Garrick for a further two years. Bourchier’s ghost is still said to haunt the theatre, tapping the unsuspecting on the back to remind them that he’s still around.

In 1921, Basil Rathbone appeared here as Dr Lawson in The Edge o’ Beyond and the decade also featured Sir Seymour Hicks, one of the Edwardian era’s biggest stars, starring in his own play, The Man in Dress Clothes.