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Sheffield

Sheffield - Lyceum Theatre at night.

 

Detail:- Stained Glass Panels

 

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

 

Grade: II*

 

List Entry Number: 1270876

 

 

SHEFFIELD

 

SK3587SE TUDOR SQUARE 784-1/25/718 Lyceum Theatre 15/11/72 (Formerly Listed as: TUDOR STREET Lyceum Theatre (including No 9))

 

II*

 

Theatre (No.9 no longer exists). 1897. Restored 1988-90. By WGR Sprague. Brick with stucco front and painted ashlar dressings. Roof not visible. EXTERIOR: rusticated ground floor, quoins, intermediate cornices, eaves cornices, open balustrade with dies and ball finials. 3 storeys plus attics; 6 bays. Round corner entrance tower, topped with dome and figure on ball finial, has intermediate cornices and 3 round-headed windows and above, 3 round windows, divided by pilasters. Attic storey has 6 deeply recessed plain sashes. Ground floor has 3 flat-headed double doors flanked by pilasters, with overlights and segmental pediments. First floor, divided by fluted pilasters, has 6 cross casements with moulded panels above them with semicircular or triangular pediments. Second floor, divided by terms, has six 2-light casements with cornices. Attic storey has 6 round-headed openings with keystones and elaborate scrollwork, each with a 2-light casement. Ground floor has 3 moulded round-arched entrances flanked by pilasters, with keystones and fanlights. Between them, moulded round-headed niches. Plainer rear elevation, 3 storeys, has irregular fenestration, and 2 round-arched doorways, one of them with curved steps. INTERIOR: auditorium has elaborate plasterwork decoration. Square headed proscenium with crest above, coved panelled ceiling with central boss. 3 side bays divided by double columns on the first floor and panelled pilasters above and below. Adjoining the stage, panelled strips with figures in niches on the first floor. Openings with shaped heads, those to the first floor with tympanums. Ornamented boxes, that to the first floor bow fronted. 2 curved galleries with elaborate ornament. A notable example of a theatre of the period, with a largely unaltered interior. (Publicity handout produced in connection with restoration appeal).

 

Listing NGR: SK3557487201

 

historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1270876

 

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Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

 

History

 

There has been a theatre on the site since 1879 when the Grand Varieties Theatre was built. Made of wood and originally intended to be used as a circus, the theatre was managed by the parents of the music hall comedian Dan Leno in 1883, who regularly performed there in the early stages of his career. Leno's lease came to an end in 1884 and the theatre burnt down in 1893. This was replaced by City Theatre but this was demolished six years later to make way for what is now the Lyceum.

 

Built to a traditional proscenium arch design, the Lyceum is the only surviving theatre outside London designed by the theatre architect W.G.R. Sprague and the last example of an Edwardian auditorium in Sheffield. The statue on top of the Lyceum Theatre is Mercury, son of Zeus and Maia.

 

By the late 1950s, the Lyceum was experiencing financial difficulties and by 1966 bingo callers were keeping the rumoured threat of demolition at bay. The theatre closed in 1969 and, despite being granted Grade II listed status in 1972, planning permission was sought for its demolition in 1975. The building was saved in part due to campaigning by the Hallamshire Historic Buildings Society.

 

Over the years the building changed ownership many times, being used variously as a bingo hall and a rock concert venue. By the 1980s, the interior was in a state of disrepair. The theatre was bought by two Sheffield businessmen in 1985, with financial support from Sheffield City Council, and it was reclassified to Grade II* listed status. Between 1988 and 1990 the Lyceum was completely restored at a cost of £12 million.

 

The theatre reopened in 1990 and now serves as a venue for touring West End productions, as well as locally produced shows. It is part of the Sheffield Theatres complex with the neighbouring Crucible Theatre and the Crucible Studio.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyceum_Theatre_(Sheffield)

 

See also:-

 

noiseheatpower.com/for-the-lyceum-with-love-a-history-of-...

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Uploaded on March 17, 2020
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