English Opera House ... What is called the Season here is in the summer; when the prices of admission are as follows:- To the boxes, 4s. ; pit 2s. ; gallery 1s. But concerts and other performances occasionally take place at other times.
The English Opera House, New Wellington Street, Strand, first opened in 1830, was erected from designs by Mr. S. Beazley. The theatre presents a pleasing elevation of the Corinthian order, formed by an elegant portico, consisting of six columns, extending over the pavement. The interior, which is light and elegant, is designed after the French plan; it is 40 feet in diameter in front of the boxes, and 37 feet from the centre to the stage lights. The saloon is 36 feet by 24, and is lighted by a dome lantern.
Mogg's New Picture of London and Visitor's Guide to it Sights, 1844
LYCEUM THEATRE (THE ROYAL), or English Opera House, in the STRAND, at the corner of Upper Wellington-stret; built by Mr. S. Beazley, and opened July 14th, 1834. The interior decorations were made in Madame Vestris's time, (1847), and are very beautiful. The theatre derives its name from an academy or exhibition room, built in 1765, for the Society of the Arts, by Mr. James Payne, the architect. It was first converted into an English Opera House by Mr. Arnold, in 1809. The preceding theatre (also the work of Mr. Beazley) was destroyed by fire, Feb.16th 1830.
Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850
The
LYCEUM, Wellington Street, Strand; originally established in 1790. The building
had been erected in 1765, by James Payne the architect, as an academy for the
"Society of Artists." After passing through various fortunes, it was
opened by Mr. Arnold as an English Opera House. The old house was pulled down in
1815, and a new building erected by Mr. S. Beazley, the dramatist and architect.
This was destroyed by fire in March 1834. The present theatre (also by Mr.
Beazley) was built and opened in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, and Mr. Charles
Mathews and Madame Vestris, have been its principal lessees.
Class of Performance: Melodrama, farce, and
burlesque.
Admission: Private boxes, 11. 11s. 6d.
to 41. 4s.; stalls, 6s.; dress circle, 4s. ; boxes, 3s.
; pit, 2s.; gallery, 1s. Doors open at half-past six; curtain rises at seven
p.m.
Cruchley's London in 1865 : A Handbook for Strangers, 1865
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Lyceum Theatre, Wellington-street, Strand—Has recently passed into the hands of Mr. Irving, who has for some years past been the leading actor and principal attraction there. It is one of the prettiest houses in London, and, while large enough to enable the poetical drama, even in the case of the heaviest Shaksperean play, to be effectively mounted, is not too large for the requirements of a modern audience. It may be noticed that evening dress is more commonly in vogue in the stalls and dress-circle here than at other theatres, but there is no absolute rule. It is worth notice, too, that the Lyceum, occupying a perfectly isolated position with a street on each of its four sides, offers special facilities for egress in case of alarm, whilst the saloon and lobby accommodation is on an unusually handsome scale, only equalled by that at Drury Lane. NEAREST Railway Stations, Temple (Dist.) and Charing-cross (S.E.); Omnibus Route, Strand; Cab Rank, Wellington-street.
Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879