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Prince Edward Theatre
Proscenium arch
Take an area famous for 'The Emporium', a large draper's store patronised by royalty
and turn it into an area famous for a theatre, such were the beginnings of the
Prince Edward Theatre. Named after the then Prince of Wales, it opened on
3 April 1930 with Rio Rita, a romantic musical comedy set in Mexico starring Edith Day and
Geoffrey Gwyther. The show was a variation on the old theme of cops and robbers and had
been a big hit in New York's Ziegfeld Theatre. Sadly, it did not find similar success with
London audiences and closed after only 59 performances.
Prince Edward
Theatre has again undergone some refurbishment to improve the bar areas and other
facilities front of house and the artistes dressing rooms. For the first time audiences
are able to walk out on the balcony outside the dress circle bar just as if it were a
real Italian palazzo.
