The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-25 00:00:00

The New Surrey Theatre.

On Saturday afternoon a considerable number of
dramatic authors, architects, and other gentlemen
assembled on the stage of the New Royal Surrey
Theatre by the invitation of the lessee, Mr. R. Shep-
herd, for the purpose of going over the new struc-
ture which has been raised during the past summer
and autumn on the site of the theatre which was so
recently destroyed by fire. Ah inspection of the
building, under the guidance and instruction of the
architect, Mr. John Ellis, was convincing that the
claim of being the most commodious and elegant
theatre in London is deserved by the new house, and
that the comforts of the audience portion have
been well studied, whilst the contrivances and
works behind are well calculated for the effective
production of any class of drama, and are superior
to those in most of the metropolitan theatres.
The following interesting description of the build-
ing has been prepared by a gentleman well qualified
for the task :

" Shortly after the destruction of the theatre,
plans and designs were selected from architects for
the rebuilding by Mr. Robert Gamlen, of Gray's-inn,
on behalf of Lieut.-Colonel Temple West, who is the
owner of the site, as also a great portion of the land
in the neighbourhood ; several sets of designs were
submitted, and the choice ultimately fell upon the
plans submitted by Mr. John Ellis, architect, of
Austinfriars, London. In the beginning of April
the excavation works were commenced, and great
difficulties encountered both from the treacherous
nature of the foundations and the constant burst-
ing in of water while forming the cellar under the
stage. The first thing done was to sink a well 6ft.
in diameter on the north side of the excavation, into
which the water rushed and rose to a considerable
height ; in this well was fixed a 6in. suction shaft,
attached to a double-action pumping engine, and
after constant working night and day for three
months the level of water gradually began to fall.
While this was going on, the foundations of the main
walls forming the sides of the large cellar and carpen-
ters' shop behind, as also the foundations of the
main building, were excavated in trenches 6ft. in
width and some 40ft. in depth, where the stiff clay
stratum was reached. Upon this the architect com-
menced the superstructure by a bed of concrete
3ft. in depth and 6ft. in width, upon which
were placed the massive walls, built in Portland
cement, and 3 feet 6 inches thick, puddled at the
back with 12 inches of stiff clay. After great
labour the ground-level was reached ; still the
water rose and fell in the well, although constant
pumping was carried on. The next step was to re-
move all shoring and excavate the earth enclosed
within the walls of the cellar and shops, forming a
mass of earth 100 feet long, 70 feet wide, and 40
feet deep. This completed, the bottom was still full
of water, which afterwards lowered to about 6
inches, when some tons of stone-lime were thrown
in, and simultaneously worked up with the gravel
left in for this purpose to a thickness of 5 feet; after
some days of labour, and mixing together, this en-
tire mass of concrete was levelled down and set;
since which time no water has appeared, and thus
the cellar and foundation work were brought to a
successful issue. The main walls were now com-
menced, and carried up in a short space of time:
The site of the new theatre may be described as an
irregular pentagon, about 200 ft. in its largest dia-
meter, and about 110 ft. in width, fronting the Black-
friars-road by a façade of 62ft. Those who remom-
ber the old theatre will see that the new building
covers a much larger area than the former one.
Most of this increased space has been added to the
stage, which, with its mechanical appliances, is one
of the most perfect and best arranged in Europe.
The main entrance is by a tetrastyle lonic portico,
62ft. in width by 30ft. in height, projecting 13ft.
from main wall—the centre doorway leading to the
box entrance lobby by a massive stone staircase en-
riched with ornamental iron balustrades. On the
right hand is formed the pit entrance, placed on a
level with the roadway. On the left hand the en-
trance to the gallery is by a massive stone staircase
7ft. in width. The auditorium is horseshoe in form,
68ft. in length, from curtain to back wall of pit,and
62ft. in width. Two rows of stalls are provided,
separated from the pit by a partition surmounted by
an ornamental iron cresting ; the floor of the dress
circle is raised on the average 10ft. above the pit
level, supported upon iron columns and girders.
The first tier of boxes and circle are 9ft., and the
second tier 10ft. in height from floor to ceiling :
these are supported upon iron columns of very ela-
borate design, brought forward to the front of the
circle, thus forming the safest and strongest method
of construction, and a pleasing architectural feature.
The whole of the fronts to the boxes and gallery
are enriched and modelled in carton pierre, with
medallions and wreath decorations finished on light
tints and gold ornamentation. The outline of the
proscenium opening is very elegant and of good pro-
portion, the upper part very richly decorated, and
the effect of thependentives, entablature,and covered
ceiling with the royal arms, is both striking and
original. The auditorium is covered by an enriched
and coffered dome, 50ft. in diameter, rising 10ft. in
the centre, and is 55ft. above the level of pit floor-
ing ; it is highly ornamented in gold and delicate
tints upon the blue ground work of the coffers ; as
as also is the entablature round the base of the dome,
with sunk panels, tinted light Venetian red, with
the names of celebrated dramatists inscribed thereon
in gold letters. The illustrious names selected are :
—Shakspere, Ben Jonson, Drayton, Beaumont and
Fletcher, Massinger, Wycherly,Vanbrugh, Farquhar,
Dryden, Congreve, Steele, Cibber, Addison, Gold-
smith, Fielding, Rowe, Colman, Garrick, Otway,
Byron, Sheridan, Macklin, Sheridan Knowles,
Douglas Jerrold, and Bulwer, in all 26. The com-
pliment to Douglas Jerrold will be felt in a theatre
which produced his most successful dramas. In the
centre of the ceiling, which is of moulded carton
pierre, is fixed a large sunlight burner which illu-
minates the entire house ; the heat arising from this
is carried away by an iron tube, 18 inches in diame-
ter, both going through the roofs into the open air,
thus thoroughly and effectually ventilating the en-
tire building. The whole of the roofs are constructed
of iron ; that over the auditorium in 11 trusses; each
65 feet span, and over the stage in 10 trusses, each
72 feet span. The flies are supported by four lattice
girders, each 60 feet in length, thus leaving the stage
perfectly clear and open from side to side. Spiral
iron staircases, 6 feet in diameter, communicate from
scene docks to upper flies, affording the quickest
possible access to all the working machinery of
stage and barrel loft, as also for the development of
large transformation and other scenic effects. These
would also be of great service in case of fire.
The carpenters' shop and painting room are placed
at the back of the building, and very conveniently
planned. Three frames can be painted at one time,
the whole being under the control of the prin-
cipal artist engaged in preparing any scenery re-
quired, and separated from the theatre by iron doors,
so that the dangerous part of the theatre is com-
pletely without the main building—a great conside-
tion in the case of fire. These rooms being placed
in the roofs of theatres, have caused the destruction
of several ; the last in London being Covent-gar-
den, and the late Surrey Theatre, as before men-
tioned. All the great entrances and exits are
capitally planned, being of great width, fireproof,
and stone construction, offering ready escape in
case of fire or alarm of any kind. The designs for
the modelled ornamentation and coloured decora-
tion have been supplied by the architect himself,