A talk based on the book, 100 Theatres, Portraits of the Playhouse.

A brief look at the emergence of the purpose-built theatre in England in Tutor times, followed by stories of some of the West End Theatres that we all know. Several of our best loved theatres only just escaped the bulldozers at the behest of London planners wanting to make way for another office block or a wider road. The outbreak of the Second World War actually saved a few from destruction.

A bit of history, a few interesting facts and a few funny stories.