History
The dignified and beautiful Kings Theatre - with its Italian Renaissance style of decor - is one of the best examples of the elegant Edwardian playhouses to be found in the British Isles and it has most original features intact. It is the result of the vision and business acumen of John Waters Boughton and the architectural prowess of Frank Matcham, one of the greatest of theatre architects. Although Frank Matcham is very respected and his work is becoming well documented, J W Boughton remains largely unknown outside Portsmouth.
In the mid 1850s, the theatre manager Henry Rutley arrived in Portsmouth and took over the Landport Hall. His previous experience in both theatre and circus persuaded him that a theatre could not only be made profitable but would also be a social asset to the town. With only a licence for a limited period he had the faith to re-open the Landport Hall as the Theatre Royal in 1856. J W Boughton became his assistant and, after the death of both Henry Rutley and his successor J C Hughes, Boughton took over the reins of Portsmouth Theatres Company in 1882. One of Boughton's first decisions was to undertake a major rebuild of the Theatre Royal, re-opening it as The New Theatre Royal in 1884. To do so he engaged the most famous theatre architect of the day, C A Phipps, who had earlier built the Gaiety, the Theatre Royal and the Haymarket in London. This was the Boughton style - to go for the best and to be commercially bold.
In 1891 Boughton employed the rising theatre architect Frank Matcham to rebuild and enlarge the Princes Theatre in Lake Road that had been destroyed by fire several years before. He employed Matcham yet again to remodel the New Theatre Royal in 1900, and he took him into his confidence early in the new century when he began to discuss the building of a Drama and Opera House in Southsea. So confident was he that Boughton paid for the initial design out of his own pocket, only disclosing his action to his company directors in June 1906. He was reimbursed for every penny and his foresight was approved, so that this new theatre - the Kings - became the third theatre owned by the Portsmouth Theatres Company.
Opening night, 30th September 1907, was a most glittering occasion. H B Irving, son of the great Sir Henry, played three of his father's successes in the first week, Charles 1, The Lyons Mail and The Bells. On the opening night, as the curtain rose, the Portsmouth Orpheus Society sang the National Anthem. J W Boughton died in 1914 but the Company continued to operate the Kings Theatre until 1964 when Commander Reggie & Mrs Joan Cooper purchased it. After the death of Cdr Cooper in 1987, Mrs Cooper was joined by local businessman Mr Ivor Barnes. In 1990 Hampshire County Council bought the Theatre, but Mrs Cooper and Mr Barnes stayed as Co-lessees.
In 2001, after a successful campaign by AKTER (Action for Kings TheatrE Restoration) to keep the theatre open, it was bought by Portsmouth City Council and leased to the Kings Theatre Trust Ltd who took responsibility for the building’s restoration and repair. This trust leased the building in turn to an operating company, Kings Theatre Southsea Ltd, who operated the building on a day to day basis and put on the programme of shows. After a seemingly successful 18 months the operating company went bankrupt, and the Kings Theatre Trust had to take over the operation of the theatre to prevent it from total closure. The Trust has been overseeing the running the theatre since 2003, and many successful shows have been held, with many more to come.
During its 100 years, many productions have visited the Theatre. For example, the Kings was the venue for the opening of the famous Aldwych Farces. After a short closure during the “phoney” war at the start of World War II, the Kings held a large programme of shows and concerts to keep up morale during these difficult years, including the popular musical concerts moved from the bombed Guildhall. Another interesting phase was the presentation of special “Flying Matinees”, with the London cast direct from their London theatres for one special afternoon performance. Many stars of stage and screen have performed at the Kings, including Sarah Bernhardt, Noel Coward, Sean Connery, Rex Harrison, Spike Milligan, Ivor Novello and Sybil Thorndike, to name but a few of the great names of the last 100 years.
Over the years the Theatre has changed little. The front of the building has altered slightly, but apart from a few advertising boards and signs, the look is almost original. The lady statue, originally mounted on the top of the Tower, and later standing on the top of the Portico at the entrance to the Theatre, was lost for many years and only found again by chance in 1998 in a Hampshire scrapyard. She will one day be restored and returned to her original position. As for the inside, the colour scheme has changed from gold, cream and blue/green to gold, cream and red. The seating has not changed much either, although the original maximum capacity of 2187 has been reduced over the years to 1450 to align with modern safety requirements. Administration and Box Office is now computerised, and a small dedicated team of staff runs the building, with volunteer assistance. Backstage, all scenery is still flown and managed by hand without the benefit of mechanisation or counterweight, although much maintenance and repair has occurred in recent years.
Since the City Council purchased the theatre, over £1.6M has been spent bringing the building up to date and improving the facilities, including over £400,000 raised from the fundraising campaign. Much important repair and restoration has been done, and many improvements have been made to all aspects of the theatre. Details of this work can be found here.
Actresses Kate O’Mara and Dillie Keane are proud to be patrons of the theatre. J W Boughton's daughter married Julian Bainbridge, who for many years was the manager of the Kings. Their daughter, the actress Hazel Bainbridge, is the mother of actresses Kate O'Mara and Belinda Carroll. Actress Dillie Keane, leading lady of “Fascinating Aida”, is a local Southsea doctor’s daughter and was an usher in her youth at the theatre.
In summary, we can quote the words of Dame Sybil Thorndike who always loved to act in the Kings Theatre because of "the wonderful appreciation of the warm-hearted audience at Portsmouth." Please continue to support the Kings and help to keep this wonderful theatre thriving. |
