London Theatres (New Edition)

Description

This fully revised and updated edition of the hugely successful London Theatres features ten additional theatres, including the Victoria Palace Theatre, the Sondheim Theatre, the Bridge Theatre and the Noel Coward Theatre. London is the undisputed theatre capital of the world. From world-famous musicals to West End shows, from cutting-edge plays to Shakespeare in its original staging, from outdoor performance to intimate fringe theatre, the range and quality are unsurpassed. Leading drama critic Michael Coveney invites you on a tour of more than 50 theatres that make the London stage what it is. With stories of the architecture, the people and the productions which have defined each one, alongside sumptuous photographs by Peter Dazeley of the auditoriums, public and backstage areas, this illustrated overview of Londons theatres is a book like no other. A must for fans of the stage! Praise for the first edition: 'This coffee table whopper ... dazzles' - Spectator 'London Theatres ... will surely feature on any theatre buffs present list' - Sightlines New chapters included in the second edition: Victoria Palace Theatre; The Bridge Theatre; Menier Chocolate Factory; Hampstead Theatre; Sondheim Theatre (formerly Queens Theatre); Harold Pinter Theatre, Noel Coward Theatre; Aldwych Theatre; Garrick Theatre; Vaudeville Theatre; Phoenix Theatre

PETER DAZELEY FRPS, known as Dazeley, is a celebrated London photographer renowned for fine art and advertising photography. He was born in West Kensington and studied photography at Holland Park School, now known as the Socialist Eton. His work has won many awards from organisations across the world, including the Association of Photographers and the Royal Photographic Society in the UK, EPICA in France, Applied Arts Magazine in Canada, and Graphis Inc. in the USA. Dazeley is a member of the Association of Photographers and a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. Peter Dazely is the photographer of Unseen London, London Uncovered, London Theatres (all Frances Lincoln). One of the country's most respected drama critics, Michael Coveney has written about theatre for over three decades, as staff critic on the Financial Times, Observer and Daily Mail. His books include a history of the Glasgow Citizens Theatre and biographies of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Dame Maggie Smith.

"According to the recently published new edition of Michael Coveney and Peter Dazeley's seriously splendid book London Theatres, we're promised massively enhanced technical facilities at Drury Lane, not least the ability to transform the auditorium into a 2,000-seat in-the-round space. Its Regency splendour restored, tiered levels of seating curved and the stalls seats brought forward for greater intimacy, the building's every space within and without has been transformed. Coveney's text is shot through with historical detail but his commentary is, above all, a labour of love, while Dazeley's exquisitely evocative photographs of these pleasure palaces are frankly ravishing. Unless you happen to own one or more of these architectural jewels, you'll never have the opportunity to see them in such glorious, glowing detail. Since we currently can't enjoy them in person, get your hands on a copy and revel in what awaits us when theatre returns." -- David Benedict * The Stage *