St. James’s Theatre Reliefs

London has a rich theatrical history. The city boasts over 240 performance venues, with more than 40 of them being located in what is called the West End.

But what happens when one of these playhouses goes belly-up or is destroyed? Luckily for one in particular, the St. James's Theatre on King Street, four bas-relief panels have been saved from demolition. The reliefs are visible from a side-street, Angel Court, adjacent to where this once prestigious auditorium once stood.  

 The sculptured art pieces were created by Edward Bainbridge Copnall. They depict the faces of theater promoter Gilbert Miller, actor George Alexander, playwright Oscar Wilde, and esteemed thespians Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier. These Carrara marble panels also include various scenes from several productions associated with the theater in its heyday.

St. James's Theatre opened in 1835 and operated for over 100 years before it was demolished in 1957. It got a reputation for being unlucky due to a high volume of short-lived productions. But the Greek revival-style building was also revered for having hosted premier performances of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and Lady Windermere's Fan.

The four marble bas-relief panels at the former site of the theater were erected as balcony fronts to an office building erected in 1959 called St. James's House. They were meant to be an homage to individuals who had connections to the theater.

By 1986, St. James's House had also been demolished, but the relief panels remain. The artworks are not the only tribute to this by-gone playhouse. The Golden Lion pub, located next door, showcases a theater bar, complete with a staircase adorned with black and white photos of famous persons with links to this once grand institution.