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- Adelphi Theatre
About Adelphi Theatre
This famous theatre has been rebuilt and designed in the art deco design which it has today. It began in 1806 as the Sans Pareil Theatre, but the name was changed to the Adelphi Theatre thirteen years later. After ten years, the name was again modified to be The Theatre Royale, Adelphi. In 1858, the building was torn down and a new theatre was built and named The Royal Adelphi Theatre. At the turn of the century, the name was again changed. However, the local populace did not like the name, The Century, so it returned to its original name a year later.
The name 'Adelphi' refers to a group of brothers who began a housing development in the area in the later 1700s. The word 'adelphi' comes from the Greek word 'adelphoi' which means brothers.
This spot which has been a theatre for two centuries has witnessed many great moments. Some of Charles Dickens' novels were given in dramatic form there. Many melodramas followed the Dickens works. Lately, the theatre has been used for musical and variety shows. Many long-playing shows have appeared here such as Charlie Girl, having over 2000 performances. The Music Man was performed here around 400 times.