Charing Cross

The Adelphi Theatre was originally founded as the Sans Pareil, meaning Without Compare, and has largely specialized in comedy and musicals. When it was first up and running, it was renowned for showing melodramas that became aptly known as Adelphi Screamers. It then went on to adapt many of Charles Dickens’ works for the stage, as well as hosting some of Samuel Beckett’s plays.

The Adelphi was also known for having the first mechanical sinking stage in London! Tragedy struck the theatre and its actors in 1897, when William Terriss was stabbed to death as he was entering through the Maiden Lane stage doors. He regularly performed at the Adelphi, and at the time there was some rumour that one of the Adelphi stage hands had committed the murder. Eventually a man named Richard Arthur Prince was convicted, who was a jealous rival of Terriss.

Recent times for the Adelphi have been much more favourable. Lee Mead became the famous winner of BBC television program Any Dream Will Do. This was an X-factor style competition involving Andrew Lloyd Webber as one of the judges, in a search for the West End’s next Joseph. Mead went on to perform the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Adelphi in the summer of 2006.

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