The Hippodrome Theatre situated in London’s Leicester Square was designed by the renowned Architect Frank Matcham and opened in 1900.
In 2010, work started on converting the auditorium into a casino and the stage area into a cabaret space to be called the Matcham Theatre.
In 2012, working with Centre Stage Engineering Ltd, J&C Joel manufactured a highly decorative valance and stage curtains for the newly refurbished Matcham Theatre.
The theatre was designed to have a dual stage with a cabaret lounge on one side and a casino on the other side. Over a period of time and working with old photographs, Centre Stage and J&C Joel worked with the designers to ensure that the curtains were as close a match as possible to the originals.
For the theatre side, J&C Joel manufactured the Front of House Curtains in black Vegas Velour (VEL168) each headed to six metres with a nine metre drop and lined with black Sateen Lining (LIN002).
However, the jewel in the crown is the ornate valance, the header was also manufactured in black Vegas Velour (VEL168) headed to 14 metres with a three metre drop and using gold Stage Satin (SS003). The gold appliqué is all custom manufactured and is completely hand finished by the J&C Joel’s highly talented team.
On the cabaret side of the theatre, black Premier Wool Serge (WS090) border curtains were manufactured and installed to hide the stage tracks measuring 14 metres wide with a four metre drop, while a white Voile (VOI001) and hazelnut Regal Satin (REG006) curtain provided the rear back drop.
Ian Napier, of Centre Stage Engineering Ltd, said: “Centre Stage Engineering were impressed with J&C Joel’s commitment to this project and both companies skill and efforts ensured that the client received a venue to be proud of.”
