NEW OLD DRURY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1921, Page 1

NEW OLD DRURY

LONDON. July (!. A national theatre worthy ot tin* name ami of the patronage ot the entire populace is the amhition .Mr Arthur Collins ami Sir Alfred IJtltt hope to realise when the Theatre I’oyal. Drurv-lane, reopens it.-, doors at Chris:mas. Jn future till their energies wili he devoccd to keepinjj this il ealre open all the year round. It will, the;, hope, become the Meeea of the amusement-seek il-;' masses the lemle/.voits oi the i onnoisseur ot all that is bright and heautilil I In the emci taiument world.

Sir Allred prophesies tliiii the. new Old Drury will lie the most luxurious •did cnit.fuitable theiitre in Europe- so ieeoiistnil ted thin every sent will pive mi iiniiiterrupted view of the stupe, (tone lire the pillars which iiimoyed so 111:111 y ployeoers. Tluinhs to the ingenuity of Hr Charles .1. Hyde, who directs the wi I.< of reconstruction on helinlf ol the nrehiteets. .Messrs J. Emhlyn Wallur cud I - '. IvlWiirtl .limes, rehiiildiiej; mid ileitioliiion me pioceedinp simultaneously. Already the new hack wall ot the oellerv is complete. Over it will po a Ilea tireproot concreie rooi. sht hiplier 1 hail 11l cciliup. Behind it v. d 1 lie erected a projection cabin, the largest of it» kind, contniiiinp twenty powerful lamps lor flooding' the stave villi |iv|i{ from the front, ol the house. In the three vast circlos which will replace the former four there will he twehV revs of seats' in each, as ajjniiisl six each in the old house; The prand circle will rise up to the level ol the hah 1111 v of the rotunda, which historic 00:1 hill of the theatre is to remain 1111d s'.or!'oil. 1....1 si,!., of t'.o (fciitiv will 1.0 ado, licit I»y seven spill-:.ms i.ict I*., .iiii ifnt liOXes, iiolildinp a hand.-oiiie apaitmeut lor iho visits of royalty. Anoth'O seven hoses will close in the hack ol the pi'iitld circle. The stalls will he reaclu'il hy a lie" L-hort st;iirva\ rnntiinp dire"l lioin the contm! entrance of the theatre, and pit pat ions will rejoice to hear that 1 heir scats v ill so raised as to overlook ihc entire mulled lloor. Well over eiOO.OnO will he expended in this endeavour to provide playgoers with a resort in which to witness the finest pro In-linns all the aits - not ex,.lndite; prand opera -can p.rovids