Bertie Crewe, architect: architectural drawings of theatres

Drawings of theatre buildings in the UK, Dublin and Paris. Includes plans, elevations, sections and the details of decorations. Mostly signed by Bertie Crewe but often not dated.

Bertie Crewe (d.1937) trained in Paris and London, where as a young man he was a frequent visitor to Frank Matcham's home and may have trained with him. Crewe became known as one of the most prolific architects of his day, specialising entirely in theatres and later cinemas. Between them, he and his contemporaries W.G.R. Sprague and Thomas Verity were responsible for the majority of the theatres and variety palaces of the building boom of 1885 to 1915.

In 1888 he assisted Walter Emden with the Royal Court Theatre on Sloane Square, and collaborated with Sprague to rebuild the Lincoln Theatre Royal (1893) and the Olympic (1890). His most notable projects included the Sadlers Wells remodelling of 1901, the Lyceum alterations of 1904, and the construction of the Prince's (later renamed the Shaftesbury).

Other London theatres included: the Stoll, the Golders Green Hippodrome, the Piccadilly, the Phoenix and the Saville. Outside London he was responsible for the Birmingham Hippodrome, the Dublin Coliseum, the Glasgow Pavillion, the Manchester Palace, among others. Many of Crewe's theatres were subsequently destroyed.

This material has been arranged alphabetically by name of the theatre.

This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Blythe House Archive and Library Study Room by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant.

Possibly acquired via the Royal Institute of British Architects ca.1957.

Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.